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HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWN OF LITCHFIELD, 



CONNECTICUT. 



BY GEORGE C. WOODRUFF. 



LITCHFIELD : 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CHARLES ADAMS. 
1845. 



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The following facts relating to the early History of Litch- 
field, resting eitiicrin tradition, or concealed amidst a mass of 
other matter, I had the curiosity to collect in moments of leis- 
ure, and to arrange for subsequent refenmce. And I have 
deemed it well to incorporate therein, extracts from Morris' 
statistical account of Litchfield, as that work is nearly out of 
print, and the facts it contains being interesting to a native of 
this town. I am also indebted to gentlemen in this village, for 
some of the facts herein recorded. Many others are doubtless 
in the memory of our older inhabitants, and valuable docu- 
ments may be found among the papers of those no longer liv- 
ing, developing the manners and customs and early histoiy of 
our ancestors. Should such be communicated to me, I may 
hereafter take measures to embody them for preservation and 
the benefit or gratification of posterity. 

GEORGE C. WOODRUFF. 

Litchfield, August 1845. 







HISTORY 

^ OF THE 

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD. 

~«©@©«*- 

CHAPTER I. 

By the charter of King Charles the 2d, to ihc Governor and 
Company of the Colony of Connecticut, granted A. D. 1662, 
the boundaries of the Colony were, the Narraganset River on 
the East, the Sea on the South, the line of the Massachusetts 
plantation on the North, and the South Sea on the West. 
Within these houndaries, were included the town and county of 
Litchfieldj which town, until the organization of the county in 
1751, was a part of the county of Hartford. 

In 1685, on the decease of Charles, his brother James the 2J> 
ascended the throne. He is represented as having been an 
" obstinate, cruel tyrant, and a bigoted Roman Catholic, desti- 
tute of all the principles of true honor, faith, justice or iiuman- 
ity. The most humble petitions, arguments from reason, char- 
ters, the most solemn compact, and royal promises ; from jus- 
tice, humanity, or any other consideration which a subject 
could plead, had no weight or influence w ith him. Nearly fifty 
corporations in England had been deprived of their charters.'* 

With a monarch of such a character, the institutions of New 
England found no favor. The charier of Massachusetts wa& 
vacated. Rhode Island submitted. Its inhabitants, and those 
of the Narraganset country, were discharged from all obedi- 
ence either to Connecticut or Rhode Island. 

Writs of quo warranto were issued against the Governor and 
Company of Connecticut, requiring them to show by what 
warrant they exercised certain powers and privileges, and this 
under circumstances which showed that it was no part of the 
King's intention to do them justice. 



The government of Connecticut omitted no probable means 
for the preservation of their chartered rights. But in the year 
1687, Sir Edmund Andros?, (a lit instrument for such a king,) 
failing to obtain the surrender or possession of our charter, for- 
cibly assumed the government of the Colony. The charter, 
the possession of which he coveted, (at the present time in the 
State House at Hartford,) was secreted, as is well known, in 
Ibe hollow of an oak now standing in Hartford, called the 
Charter Oak. 

During this period, and, as it was said, for the purpose of 
*' saving the lands from the grasp of Sir Edmund, and to prevent, 
his enriching himself and his minions by a sale of them," the 
legislature, on the 26th of January ifee, conveyed to the towns 
of Hartford and Windsor, as follows : "This Court grants to 
the plantations of Hartford and Windsor, those lands on the 
north of Woodbury and Mattatuck,* and on the west of Farm- 
ington and Simsbury, to the Massachusetts line north, to run 
west to the Housatonic or Stratford river ; provided, it be not 
or part of it granted to any particular person to make a planta- 
tion or village." 

This conveyance subsequently created serious difficulty in 
the Colony, and gave rise to forcible resistance to the public 
authorit}^ 

It was claimed on the part of the colony, that the grant was 
without consideration, and that those towns were to hold the 
lands in trust for the Colony till the time of danger should be 
past. 

But those towns denied the justice of the demands of the 
Colony, and claimed the lands as absolutely their own, and in 
contravention of the laws of the Colony proceeded to survey 
and sell them. Some of the ofienders were arrested and pun- 
ished, some were committed to the prison in Hartford. The 
inhabitants of Windsor and Hartford armed themselves, and in 
spite of the power and authority of the sheritf, and the assem- 
, bly, broke open the goal and rescued the prisoners. These 
events occurred in 1722. 

The towns still continued to lay out the disputed lands, and 
* Waterbury. 



ihe legislature to' pursue spirited measures to prevent if. Tfic 
controversy assumed a still more seriou^s aspect, but was final- 
ly auiicably adjusted in May 1726, by dividing- the lands in 
controversy, between the towns of Hartford and Windsor on 
the one part, and the Colony on the other. 

From this division, however, the town of Litchfield, thou£;h 
a part of the disputed territory, was exempted, as were also 
other lands previously conveyed by those towns. 

Those interested in the town of Litchfield had, indeed, some 
time before the controversy attained its height, with commend- 
able prudencBj taken measures to perfect their title by obtain- 
ing grants from all claimants. 



CHAPTER n. 

Our ancestors were not of those who pretended that the ab- 
Originees had no right to the soil which had for centuries been 
occupied by them and their fathers. The settlers of Connec- 
ticut deemed it a matter of conscience, to abstain from trespas- 
sing upon the lands of the natives, much more from depriving 
them of those lands until they were fairly purchased. 

It is said that before the settlement of this town by the whites, 
a tribe resided here, probably on the borders of the lake, in alli- 
ance with the powerful tribe of Indians at New Milfoid, but 
still independent of them. 

The Tunxis or Farmington tribe of Indians adjoined them 
on the east, and how far their territories extended into this 
township, if at all, is uncertain. 

But I find that as early as the year 1657, certain Indians of 
that tribe conveyed to William Lewis and Samuel Steele of 
Farmington, certain privileges as appears by the following copy 
of their deed, viz : 

" This witnesseth that we Kepaquamp and Querrimus and 
Mataneage have sould to William Leawis and Samuel Steele of 



ffavmington A p sell or a tract of land called Matetuckc, that 
js to say the hill from whence John Standley and John An- 
drews brought the black lead, and all the land within eight 
mylle of that 1 till on every side ; to dig ; and carry away what 
they will and to build in jt for y^ use of them that labour there ; 
and not otherwise to improve y^ land. In witness wJiereof 
wee have hereunto set our hands, and thos Jndians above men- 
tioned must free the purchasers from all claymes by any other 
Indyans. 

Witnes ; John Steel. William Lewis, 

february ye 8ih 1G57. Samuel Steele. 



The mark 
febru ye 8th 



of Kepaquamp. 
1657. 



The mark 
febru ye 8th 



of Querrimus. 
1657. 



The mark of 
february ye 8^ 




Mataneage. 
1657." 



Precisely where the hill referred to in this deed was situated, 
I have been unable to discover, but from the subsequent claims 
of the grantees, from tradition, and from the deed itself, it would 
seem that it was in the southern part of Harwinton, and em- 
braced that town, and also some portion of Plymouth (then Mat- 
atuck or Waterbury) and Litchfield. This purchase was made 
by the grantees in behalf of themselves and a company com- 
posed of certain other inhabitants of Farmington. And on 



the lltli of August 1714 the whole luchan title to the Kami de- 
scribed in said instrument, in the successors of the grantors, 
was conveyed as appears by the following deed : 

"To all christian people to whom (hese presents shall come, 
Pcthuzso and Taxcronuck with Awowas and y^ rest olf us y^ 
subscribers, Indians belonging to Tunxses or otherwise ffarm- 
ington jn theyer majesties Colony of Conecticut jn New Eng- 
land send greeting — Know ye that whereas, Kepaqam, Quero- 
mus, and Mattaneg our Predisessors, did feb^ ye eighth 1857 : 
sell and convey unto Capt. William Lewis and Left. Samuel 
Steele a certain Tract or p'cell of land called Maftatuck ; that 
is to say the hill from whence John Stanly and John Andrews 
brought y^ black Lead, and all yc Land within eight miles of 
that hill, on every side ; to jinprove as appeareth on Record jn 
ye second book of Records Page : 17th: which Purchas was 
made, for y^ most considerable part, of ye jnhabitants of flarm- 
ington as may appear by a List of theyer Names, who with s'd 
Lewis and Steele, Payd a considerable sume for y^ Purchas. 
A considerable Part of which Tract or p^cell of Land is com- 
prised within ye bounds, of Watterbury and fFarmington, we 
haueing allso about ye year, one thousand, six hundred and 
87 ; with sume of our Predecessors Received of Left. John 
Stanly, about the sume of eight Pounds for Part of said Land 
which are confirmed to him, and we do now Quitt our claimc 
to ye same and do confirm ye same to him and his successors 
according as we or any of our predicessors did before us : and 
hauing considered what sumes of mony, and that which hath 
been to o"" predecessors, and our full sattistaction for ye said 
I)''cell of Land, mentioned jn ye p^misess, with what further, 
gratuities we have lately received, from Left Stanly and Sarjt 
Eben Steele, and Now therefore knov,- all men, by these Pres- 
ents that we Pethuzso and Toxcronock, Avith Awowas, and y« 
rest of us that have subscribed do well approve of what Kej)a- 
quam, Queromus and Mattanege, have done jn selling ye aboue 
s'l Tract or percell of Land aboue s^^ to Capt. William Lewis 
and Left. Steele, and do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, alien- 
ate, confirm and convey all o'' Right jn or to s^ tract of land 
whatsoever, we ye s^' Pethuzsoe and Toxcronuck, with ye rest 

2 



i 



in 

Now, hnuc or jn time to come, might ought or should haue had 
jii or to s^^ Land aboiie mentioned as it is described jn y^ Rec- 
ord, and deeds within all y^ extent of y^ buttments bounded or 
Reputed to l:>c bounded, Together with all such Rights Liber- 
tyes ; Profits, Privileges, jmunities. Profits, commodities, im- 
mollunients and appertenances, as jn any kind appertain there- 
unto, belonging unto y^ sons of s<^^ Capt Lewis and Left Steele; 
Namely unto William Lewis Sarjt Ebenezer Steel, and allso 
Left John Stanly aboiic s<^ all belonging unto s'^ ffarmington, 
v.ith y^ associats of s<l Capt Lewis and Left Samuel Steele, as 
may appear, by y*-' List of theyer Names on y- other sid of this 
Justrument, which were ye men yt Payd y^ first Purchas ; Ave 
say to William Lewis jun^ Eben. Steel and John Stanly with 
ye ancient Purchasers, w^e say y^ Tract of Land w^^ a]j ye pj-e- 
veledges w'hich in any kind appertain thereunto with ye Re- 
uersions and Remainders thereof and all y^ estate Right Title, 
Jnteresi, jiiherilance. Property claime and demand whatsoever, 
we ye s*5 Jndians haue, might ought or shold haue, had to ye 
s^i Land, and Priueledges, and do hereby Quitt any claime 
thereto, unto ye s^ "William Lewis and Ebenezer Steel, and 3'^e 
ancient Purchasers to haue and to hold all ye aboue granted 
prraises with all and singuler ye appurtenances thereof unto ye 
s^l Lewis Steele and theyer fathers associats, as aboue expresst 
and to Left John Stanly jn speciall, fifty acres Layd out and 
confirmed to him near ye s^l hdl, and fifty acres more where he 
shall sec canse to take it up, or his heirs, wliich we have had 
full sattisfaction for, with our Predecessors, the s^ Purchasors 
to liaue and to hold ye Land bought as is expressed of our 
grandfathers and Relations, with ye apurtenances thereof to 
ihcm theyer heirs and assigns to their own sole and Proper 
use, and behoof from henceforth forever. — All ye s'i Pelhuzso, 
and Toxcronuck v/ith ye Rest of the Jndians subscribing do 
hereijy for our selves and our heir cxecut''^ adminf^ couenant 
promise, grant and agree, to and with ye s'^ John Stanly Steel 
and Lewis in manner and form as followeth, that ye s'^ Keepa- 
ciuam, Qucrimus and Mattaneage at ye time of ye ensealing ye 
conuayancc al)ove expressed, they were ye true and lawfull 
owners of ye Land cTutained jn ye Premises and stood seized 



II 

of the wliole tract of laiul contained in y^'ljook of Records in 
y° premises : after y^ mcathod that other Indians iisecd to do, 
jn theyer own right ; yet for A further saitislaction of ye heirs 
of Capt. Lewis, Steel, and Sfanly we haue gimni tliis Jnstru- 
rnent to Left Stanly and William Lewis, son of Cr.pt L»nvi:=, 
and Ehenezer Steele to bo A farther confnnialion to tlicni and 
ye ancient Purchasers forever. Now this indenture v>nitnes.s- 
eth for a further confumatiou to theui ye s<^I Stanly, Lewis and 
Steel, that we y^ s^^ Pethuzso and Toxcronuck with y'' rest of 
ns ye subscribers do grant Release and Quitt any clainie to yo 
aboue s^ Tractor Percell of Land and do hereb}' assigne, eufe- 
offe, Rattefic and Confirm unto the afjres'^ Willi" Lewis SarjL 
Ehenezer Steel and Left John Stanly theyer ancient Purchas- 
ers and theyer heirs forever, all y^ foremenlioned premises that 
is to say the hill from whence John Stanly and John Andius 
brought ye blacklead and all y^ Land within eight mile of y^ 
hill on euery side, with all y^ timber tree?^, woods brooks rivers, 
mines, minerals thereupon, and hereby surrender and Quitt our 
claime to y^ same for them to have and to hold Possess asul 
enjoy and tlieir heirs forever, and do hereby warrant maintain, 
and defend y° s^ Purchasers theyer heirs and assigns jn y^ Qui- 
et and Peaceable Possession, and enjoyment thereof as above 
described, against our selves our heirs execute* adniini's and as- 
signs and and all and euery other p''son or p^sons lawfidly claim- 
ing Right Title Jntrest therein from by, or under us. 

Jn wittness whereof we y^ said Petthuzso Toxcronuck Awo- 
was, with ye Rest haue to this Indenture Put our hand-, and 
scales, thiseleuenth of August in ye year of o'" Lord one thou- 
sand and seven hundred and fourteen : 1714 

Signed scaled and deliv-1 u xti, „„ i- vy i r i 

=•1- „ p Petthuzso : his V mark. fL-s.] 

ered in ye presence 01 ! >^ ■- ^ 

""'' John Thomson, J Toxcrunuck : his '\ ^. mark [l.s.] 
Hez. Hooker, 
ffarmington September ye cleuentii day, Anno q'' Dom. 1714, 
Petthuszo, and Toxcronuck, ffarmington Jndians, and sulj^cii- 
bers to this aboue written Instrument came p'sonally before me 
and acknowledged ye same to be thc'yer own willing and free 
act and deed. JOHN HOOKER, Juslic. 



12 

Wlttnesscs to Taphow "1 .. „ , , . /■ i r i 

and his sciua sign- | ^"""^ Taphow h.s J mavk. [l.s.] 

injj^ sealing and de- )■ >. 

livering | Young Taphow Squa ^ 

Th.)'s Lee, J 

Hez, Hooker. 

Witnesses to Awo-"l „ ^ i -n i /^ t r n 

„,„„ . . , retasas granchild her flr mark. Tl.s. I 

was signing seal- v ^ l -» 

ing & delivering. ( ^^^ 

Timothy Portter, J Awowas his mark/^ r ^ -. 

Josiah Hart. ^^ '-"■-' 

ffarmington Octohf ye 12th, Anno Domi : 1714 : Taphow ye 
younger and his squa ; allso Wowowis all ffarmington Jndians 
came prsonally before me, and acknowledged this aboue writ- 
ten Jnstrument — which they have signed and sealed to be thyer 
own willing free act and deed. 

JOHN HOOKER, Justic. 

By virtue of these deeds, certain inhabitants of Farmington 
claimed a title to a portion of this township. But it will be ob- 
served, that their title, whatever it was, was derived from the 
natives only. And that the title of the Colony, was vested in 
the Towns of Hartford and Windsor. Those Towns therefore 
claimed the exclusive right to purchase the Indian title, and on 
doing so, to survey and sell the Lands. 

The affairs of "The Western Lands," as they were called, 
were managed by committees severally appointed by those 
Towns, who acted in conjunction. As early as 1715, those 
Towns took measures to explore the Township of Litchfield, 
and to purchase the native rights. Mr. John Marsh of Hart- 
ford, one of the first settleis of this Town, and the ancestor of 
the Marshes of Litchfield, was one of the committee appointed 
for that purpose, by the Town of Hartford. He was an ener- 
getic and courageous man, and in May 1715 undertook whai 
was then a perilous journey into the pathless wilderness. His 
bill as appears from our ancient records was as follows : 

The Town of Hartford Dr., 

To John Marsh, 

May 1715, For 5 days man and horse with expenses 

in viewing the Land at the New Plantation, £2 



13 

I find also ihe following charges m;uk' in January follow ing 
to the Town of Hartford, by a couimitlce for inanagiiig- the af- 
fairs of the Western Land. 
The Town of Hartford Dr., 

Jan 22 171 5-1 G, To 6 days jouniey to AV'uodluirv, 

to treat willi the Indians about the '\\'e.s!ern Lands, 

by Thomas Seymour, £l \ 

To expenses in the journey, 1 14 



£Z 18 9 
The Town of Hartford Dr., 

To Thomas Seymour Committy. 
May 1716, By 2 quarts of Rum, £0 2 6 

Expenses at Farmington, 4 

Waterbury, 1 7 

Paid Thomas Miner towards the Indian purchase, 7 10 
Expenses at Woodbury, 2 110 

" for a Pilot and protection, 1 10 

Fastening horse shoes at "Waterbury, 2 

Expenses at Waterbury, 1 S 

The result of the negotiations with ihc Indians, was the sale 
by them to the Towns of Hartford and Windsor of the Town- 
ship of Litchfield. For aught that a])pears, it was fairly pur- 
chased, and we have no evidence that the natives became dis- 
satisfied with it, or expressed any unwillingness to surrender 
the possession. They subsequently gave the settlers little trou- 
ble. The capture of Gri nvold and the murder of Harris wei e 
the only exceptions, and whether these were the acts of the na- 
tives of Bantam, or of the fierce and warlike Mohawks who ex- 
tended their predatory excursions into these regions, and to 
whom our tribes were tributary, is uncertain. 

The Indian deed of this Town was executed at Woodbury 
March 2d, 1715, (probably 1716 N. S.) and is as follows, vix: : 
" To all people to w'hom those presents shall come — Know 
ye that we Ciiusqunnoag, Corkskrew, Quiump, Magnasii, 
Kehow, Sepunkum, Poni, Wonposet, Suckqunnokqueen, 
TowEEcuME, Mansumpansh,Norkgnotonckqut — Indi.m na- 
tives belonging to the plantation of Potatuck within the Colo- 



14 

ny of ConncclicLif, for nnd in consideration of (he sum of fifteen 
pounds money in hand received to orir full satisfaction and con- 
tent i.nenf, have given granted bargained and sold and by these 
presents do fully freely and absolutely give grant bargain sell 
and confirm, unto Col" William Whiting, Mr. John Marsli, and 
Mr. Thomas Seymour, a Committee for'the town of Hartford, 
— Mr. John Eliot, Mr. Daniel Griswold, and Mr. Samuel Rock- 
well, a Committee for the Town of Windsor, for themselves, 
and in the behalf of the rest of the Inhabitants of the Tow^ns of 
Hartford and Windsor, — a certain tract of Land, situate and 
lying, north of Waterbury bounds, abutting southerly, partly on 
Waterbury and partly on Woodbury, — from Waterbury River 
westward cross a part of Waterbury bounds, and cross at the 
north end of Woodbury bounds to Shepaug River, and so noth- 
erly, in the middle of Shepaug River, to the sprains of Shepaug 
River below JSIount Tom, then running up the east branch of 
Shepaug River, to the place where the said River runs out of 
Shepaug Pond, from thence to the north end of said Pond, then 
east to W^aterbury River, then southerly as the River runs, to 
the north end of Waterbury bounds upon the said River ; which 
said Tract of Land thus described, To Have and to Hold, to 
the ^aid Col. W^illiam Whiting, Mr. John Marsh, and Mr. 
Thomas Seymor, Mr. John Eliot, and Mr. Daniel Griswold, 
and Mr. Samuel Rockwell, Committees for the Townis of Hait- 
ford and Windsor, as aforesaid, in behalf of themselves and the 
rest of the Inhabitants of said Towns, to them, their heirs and 
assigns, to use occupy and improve, as their own proper right 
of Inheritance, for their comfort forever ; together w^ith all the 
privileges, appurtenances and conditions to the same belong- 
ing, or in any wise appuitaining. And further, we the said 
Chusqunnoag, Corkscrew, Quiump, Magnash, Keho\v, Sepun- 
kum, Poni, Wonposet, Suckqunnokqueen, Toweecume, Man- 
sumpansh, and Norkgnotonckquy, owners and proprietors of 
the above granted Land, do for ourselves and our heirs, to and 
with the above said William Whiting, John Marsh, Thomas 
Seymor, John Eliot, Daniel Griswold, and Samuel Rockwell, 
committee as aforesaid, them, their heirs and assigns, covenant 
and engage, that we have good right and lawful authority^ to 



1, 



sell the above granted lajid, — and furl!. or, at ihc desire and re- 
quest of the aforesaid comuiittcc, and al their own proper cost 
and charge, will give a more ample deed. 

And for a more full confirmation hereof, \ve liave set to our 
hands and seals, this second day of March, in ihc second year 
of his Majesties Reign, Aniioq. D. 1715. 

Memorandum ; before the execuling of this instrument, it is 

to be understood, that the grantors above named have reserved 

to themselves a piece of ground sufiicient fur theif huiitiiig 

houses, near a mountain called Mount Torn. 

Signed sealed and deliv- ) ri 

ered in our presence. 5 Chusqunnoag CC::? hisniark. [l.s.] 



Weroamaug p^ his mark. 
Wognacug z^/^^is mark, 

Tonhocks ~f~his mark. 

John Mitchell 
Joseph Minor. 



Corkscrewf*^ his mark, [l.s.] 
Quiump *^-^ his mark, [l..-.] 

Magnash j his mark, [l.s.] 
Kehow -^-*^ his mark. [l.s.] 
Sepunkum /^ his maik. [l.s.] 

Poni / ^his mark, [l.s.] 

Wonposet ^-^V'his mark, [l.s.] 

Suckqunnockqueen / his mark. [l,s. ] 

Taweeumc (y/v^ro his mark, [l.s.] 

Mansumpansh \^^ his mark, [l.s.] 

The Indians that subscribed and sealed the above said deed, 
appeared personally in Woodbury, the day of the date thereol^, 
and acknowledged the said deed to be their free and voluntary 
act and deed. " Before me JOHN MINOR, Justice." 

The Committees, named in this deed, conveyed all tlicir in- 
terest in said Lands, to the Towns of Hartford and Windsor, by 
Deed dated August 29, 1716. 

The conflicting claims to this Township, betvs'ecn the Towns 



IG 
of Hartford aacl Windsor on the one part, and " certain con- 
siderable persons in the Town of Fannington," on the other, 
arising" out of the preceding conveyances, were subsequently 
aniicably adju.-ted by the parties. The Farmington company, 
by their attorney John Stanley, on (he 1 Ith of June 1718, con- 
veyed their interest to the Towns of Hartford and ^rindsor, and 
ill con>idcration thereof, those individuals were inve^-ted by 
tho.-e Towns with one sixth part of this Township. 



— ©S?^— 



CHAPTER HI. 

The title to this Township having thus ]:>een entirely vested 
In the Towns of Hartford and Windsor, and in certain inhabi- 
tants of Farniington ; in 1718, a company was formed for the 
settlement of the Town. 

The Township was divided into sixty rights or shares, three 
of which were reserved for pious uses. Purchasers having 
been found for the remaining fifty-seven shares, on the 27th of 
Apiil 1710, Deeds of conveyance of that date, were made, by 
coiniuittees of the Towns of Hartford and Windsor, and certain 
inhabitants of Farming Ion, conveying to the purchasers the 
whole plantation called Bantam. 

Exclusive of three rights reserved for pious uses, the consid- 
eration paid for forty-eight of the shares, was jC229, 10, in bills 
of public credit. That paid for seven shares, was c£31,4. 
The deeds of the above fifty-five shares, are recorded on our 
Records. How much was paid for the remaining two shares, 
which Avere purchased by Mr. John Marsh, dues not appear. 

The Towjiship contains about 44,800 acres, and the ])ur- 
chase money did not exceed one penny three farthings per acre. 

The three home lots, w'ith the divisions belonging thereto, i. 
c. 1-20 of the whole plantation, devoted to public purposes, 
Aveie, one home lot with the divisions and conunons thereto 
pertaining, to the first minister his heirs &c. forever ; one, to 



17 

the use of the first minister and his successors ; and one, for 
the support of the school. 

It was provided in the Deeds, that, *' the Grantees or their 
sons, should build a tenantable house on each home lot, or on 
their division, not less than 16 feet scjuaro, and personally in- 
habit them, by the last day of May 1721, and for three years en- 
suing ; and do not lease or dispose of their share for five years 
hereafter, without consent of Inhabitants or first Plantcr^<."* 

The title thus acquired, was immediately after still further 
confirmed by act of Assembly in May, 1719, as follows, viz : 

" At a General Assembly holden at Hartford, May, A. D. 
1719: 

Upon the petition of Lieut. John Marsh of Hartford, and 
Deacon John Buel of Lebanon, with many others, praying 
liberty, under committees appointed by the towns of Hartford 
and Windsor, to settle a town westward of Farniington, at a 
place called Bantam : 

This Assembly do grant liberty, and full power, unto the 
said John Marsh and John Buel and partners settlers, being in 
the whole fifty-seven in number, to settle a town at said Ban- 
tam ; the said town to be divided into sixty rights, three where- 
of to be improved for pious uses in said town. And the other 
fifty-seven shall be, as soon as may conveniently be, settled 
upon by the undertakers, or upon their failure, by others that 
may be admitted. Said town to be in length, east and west, 

* The grantees were, John Marsh (2 rights,) Samuel Sedgwick, Sen., Nathan- 
iel Goodwin, Timothy Seymour, Paul Peck, Jr., Joseph Mason, Nathaniel Mes- 
senger, Benjamin Webster, and Joshua Garritt, of Hartford, — Samuel Forward, 
Thomas Griswold, Jr., Jacob Gibbs, Joseph Birge, anrl- Benjamin Hosforcl, of 
Windsor,— John Hart, Timothy Stanley, John Bird, Joseph Bird, Samuel Isewis, 
Ebenezer Woodruff, Samuel Root, Nathaniel Winchell, and Hezekiah Winchell, 
of Farmington, — Josiah Walker, Samuel Orton, Joseph Waller, and Isaac Judge- 
son, of Woodbury, — William Goodrich, Jr., John Stoddard, Ezekiel Buck, and Ja- 
cob Griswold, of Wcthersfield,— John Biiel, (2 rights,) Fdward Culver, Hezekiah 
Culver, Thomas Lee, Elizur Strong, Supply Strong, Caleb Chapel, (2 rights,) 
Thomas Treadaway, and John Calkins, of Lebanon, — Ezekiel Sanford, (2 rights,) 
Nathan Mitchell, Thomas Pier, John Man, Joseph Pete, and Samuel Somers, of 
Stratford, — Jonathan Buck, of New-Milford,— Joseph Gillett, of Colchester, all in 
the Colony of Connecticut, — Nathaniel Smith, (.3 rights,) Ephraim French, and 
John Collins, of Taunton, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 

3 



18 



eight miles three quarters and twenty-eight rods, and in breadth 
seven miles and an half, being bounded eastward by Mattatuck 
River, westward the bigger part upon the most western branch 
of the Shepaug River, and partly upon the wilderness, north 
by the wilderness, and south by Waterbury bounds and a west 
line from Waterbury corner unto Shepaug River ; said town 
to be known by the name of Litchfield, and to have the fol- 
lowing ligure for a brand for their horse kind, viz : 9. And 
the same power and privileg-es that other towns in this Colony 
do enjoy, are hereby granted to said town." 

A Patent was afterwards granted to these Proprietors, dated 
May 19th, 1724, which may be seen in the Appendix. 

The township was originally divided into sixty home lots of 
fifteen acres each, as near as could conveniently be done, and 
any deficiency there might be, w^as made up to the owner of 
the deficient lot, elsewhere; and still farther divided from time 
to time, into Divisions and Pitches of 4, 20, 60, and lOQ 
acres, &c. &c. 

A few individuals commenced the settlement of the town in 
the year 1720. In the year 1721, a considerable number, 
chiefly from the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Lebanon, 
moved on to the tract.* 



*The following is a lis 


t of the original settlers who became such during th 


first three years after the setfleirient : 






Nehcrniah Allen from 


Coventry. 


Joseph Kilborn, 


Wethersfield 


Joseph Birge, 


Windsor. 


Thomas Lee, 


Lebanon. 


John Bird, 


Farmington. 


Joseph Mason, 


Hartford. 


Joseph Bird, 


«« 


John Marsh, 


" 


Ezekiel Buck, 


WetheriSfield. 


Nathan Mitchell, 


Stratford. 


Satniiel I^eebe, 


Fairfield Co. 


Samuel Orton, 


Woodbury. 


Jolm J'ucU, 


Lebanon. 


Edward Phelps, 


Winddor. 


John Baldwin, 


Stratford. 


Thomas Pier, 


Stratford. 


Daniel Culver, 


Lebanon. 


Paul Peck, Jr. 


Hartford. 


Samuel Culver, 


" 


John Peck, 


" 


Hczokiah Culver, 


<( 


.John Stoddard, 


Wethersfield 


Timothy Colling, 


Guillord. 


EleazUr Strong, 


Lebanon. 


John ('atlin, 


Hartford. 


Supply Strong, 


(( 


James Church 


" 


Joseph Sanford, 


Stratford. 


Joseph GiUcM, 


Colchester. 


Lemuel Sanford, 


" 


Aliraham Goodwin, 


Hartford. 


Nathaniel Smith, 


Taunton, Ms. 


Joshua Garritt, 


<' 


John Smith, 


(< 


Benjamin Gibbs, 


Windsor. 


Samuel Smedley, 


Woodbury. 


Jacob (iibbs, 


" 


Thomas Treadway, 


Lebanon. 


William Cjoodvich, Jr 


Wefhcrsfield. 


Benjamin Webster, 


Hartford. 


Jacob Griswold, 


«' 


Josiah ^Valker, 


Woodburv. 


John Gay, 


Dcdham, Ms. 


Joscpli Waller, 


" 


Benjamin Hosford, 


Windsor. 


Nathaniel Woodruff, 


Farmington. 


Joseph Harris, 


Middletown. 







19 

The rliolee of hoine-lots, was decided by lot. The first lot 
selected was about half a mile south of the Court House, and 
next to Middle Street, or Gallows Lane. The second was half 
a mile further south, and on the corner opposite the late resi- 
dence of Mr. James Prescott. The third three fourths of a 
mile west of tbe Court House, known as the Sti'ong jilacc. 
The eleventh choice was the lot thirty rods next west of the 
County House corner, which subsequently the town voted, was 
not lit for building a house upon. The Mansion Hohsc corner 
was the twentieth choice. The corner now owned by Mr. 
Olivei" Goodwin, was the twenty-fifth choice. The County 
House corner was the thirty-third choice. Ten lots were se- 
lected on Chesnut hill, on both sides of the road and lying 
southerly from the school house near Mr. Eliada Peck's. The 
last choice (the 57th) was the lot on which the Hotel of Mr. 
George Bolles now stands. 

The home lot of the first minister, was located on the corner 
where now stands the dwelling house owned by Mr. Frederick 
Deming ; and the twenty acre division appurtenant thereto, 
was laid adjoining on the north, and extended to the iiortb line 
of the premises occupied by thp late Mr. Eaton Jones. The 
borne lot and twenty acre division for the use of the fir>t minis- 
ter and his successors, adjoining on the north. And the home 
lot and twenty acre division for the school, adjoining the latter 
on the north. 

The highway from Bantam river, running westerly through 
the village, was laid out, twenty rods wide, and called Meet- 
ing House street. That now called North street, twelve rods 
wide, and w^as called Town street. That now called South 
street, eight rods wide, and was called Town Hill street, and 
the east line terminated six rods east of the front of Mr. Oliver 
Goodwin's dwelling house. That now called Gallows Lane, 
twenty-eight rods wide, and was called Middle street. That 
rvmning southerly from the residence of the late Mr. William 
Ward, four rods wide w^as called South Griswold street ; and 
that running northerly was 8 rods wide, and called North Gris- 
wold st reet. That now called Prospect street, twenty rods wide, 
but soon reduced to seventeen rods, and was called North street. 



20 

The first Church, Court House, and School House, stood 
nearly in the center of Meeting House street, the Court House 
about opposite the center of Town street, the Church east, and 
the School House west of the Court House. 

The first white child born in Litchfield was Eunice, the 
daughter of Jacob Griswold, afterwards the wife of Capt. Sol- 
omon Buel. She was born March 23, 1721. The first white 
male child, born in Litchfield, was Gershom Gibbs, on the 28th 
of July 172L He was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, and 
died in captivity. His son Gershom, was born July 18, 1750, 
and died here in September 1843. 

Many persons have died in this town between the age of 90 
and 100. The mother of the late Judge Adams, was born in 
Stratford in 1698, and died here in the year 1803, aged 105. 
Mr. Reuben Dickinson was born in 1 7 1 6, and died here in 1 8 1 8, 
aged 102. The oldest man now (1845) living here, is Mr. 
John Hall, a soldier of the Revolution, born February 26, 1754. 
The next is Mr. Daniel Lamson, also a Revolutionary soldier, 
born March 28, 1754. 



■ Q^J'w"^ 



CHAPTER IV. 

The first inhabitants of this town, were thoroughly inibucti 
with a sense of the importance of education, virtue, and relig- 
ion, to the welfare of themselves, and their posterity. The ex- 
perience of their forefathers had taught them, that perfect free- 
dom of opinion and religion, could not be enjoyed under the 
European Governments ; and they were satisfied that our pecu- 
liar Institutions could not long survive the virtue and intelli- 
gence of the people. We according find in the original con- 
veyances of this plantation, ample provision made for the per- 
petuation of these blessings. 

In carrying out their original designs, the first settlers of this 
town brought with them from Lebanon, the Rev. Timothy- 
Collins, a candidate for the ministry, to preach for them. And 



2! -^ 

at the lirst Town Meeting of which we liave a record, viz. on 
the Gth of November 1721, lie was "called to a settlement in 
this place, in the Avork of the miniatry." The town then con- 
stituted but one Ecclesiastical Society, and for many years all 
votes relative to Ecclesiastical aflairs, were passed iu Town 
Meeting. In addition to the provision made in the deed, giving 
him in fee one sixtieth of the whole township, and also the use 
of another sixtieth part, (which last was called the Parsonage 
Right,) the Town then voted the following salary, viz : jC57 
per annum for the first four years, for the fifth .£60, the sixth 
jC70, the seventh i^80, and to continue at .£80 a year so long 
as he continued in the work of the ministry here. The Town 
also voted to give him XlOO, to be paid by the 1st of July then 
next, and his firewood so long as he continued here in said 
work. The amount of his firewood for a series of years was by 
vote to be eigiity cords per annum. This provision (very lib- 
eral for the times) was accepted by Mr. Collins on the 12th of 
December 1721 ; he entered upon his labors, was ordained on 
the 19 til of June 1723, and continued to be the minister of the 
Congregational Society till the 15th of November 1752, when 
he was dismissed. He afterwards continued here, acting as a 
Justice of the Peace, and in the practice Medicine, and died in 
177G. 

In January 1745-6, a committee was appointed to make sale 
and give deeds or leases of the Parsonage Right. And in 
Marcli following the committee sold most or all of that rigljt 
which was not afterwards leased to Mr. Champion, and con- 
veyed it in fee simple to sundry individuals. On the 9th of 
February 1746-7, the town "Voted That the interest money 
arising upon the bonds for which the Parsonage Right was sold, 
be towards the payment of Mr. Collins' rate for the current 
'yc<ar." What disposition was made of the principal, does not 
appear from the Records. 

On the 26th of February 1753, the Town voted to give the 
Rev. Judah Champion, a native of East Haddam, a call to set- 
tle here in the work of the ministry, and to give him jC2000 in 
old tenor money, for his settlement. And jC800 per annum old 
tenor money for his salary. 



29- 

Mr. Champion accepted the call, was ordained July 4fh 
1753, and continued in the ministry till 1798. His salary was 
continued till his decease in 1810, in his 82d year. For the 
purpose of paying the seltlement of Mr. Champion, it was, on 
the 14th of June 1753, voted, to lease to him so much of the 
Parsonage Right as should be necessary for that purpose, for 
the term of 999 5'ears, And on the 15th of January 1754, a 
lease of the home lot and twenty acre division adjoining, was 
given to Mr. Champion, in consideiation of said settlement. 

The School Right was disposed of as follows. On the 29tli 
:of December 1729, the Town voted, " That the School Right 
in Litchfield, shall be leased out for the maintainance of a 
School in said Litchfield, for 999 years ensuing." And also 
voted, " That the inliabitants of said Litchfield do oblige them- 
selves and their successors, in y^ recognizance of Ten Thou- 
sand Pounds lawful money, to give a new lease of said right at 
the end of said term of 999 years, if there shall be occasion." 

In pursuance of these votes, the committee appointed for 
that purpose, on the 15th of April 1730, leased to sundry indi- 
viduals the School right, being one sixtieth of the Town, for 
999 years. The grantees paying twenty-seven pounds annu- 
ally for eight years, for the support of the School, and the 9th 
year, paying to the selectmen four hundred and fifty pounds, to 
be forever kept for the support of a school in Litchfield. To 
the lease was annexed, the following '^ P. S. Before signing 
and sealing, the above inentioned signers and sealers agreed, 
that whoever occupies and improves all the above land or lands, 
or any part of them, shall pay all rates and taxes that shall 
arise upon them or any part of (hem, during the whole term of 
the lease." And in the year 17G7, it was " voted, to divide the 
money for which the school right was sold, between the old So- 
ciety, the Soutli Farms Society, and the Church of England, iu 
proportion to the list of each part." 



23 



CHAPTER V. 

"The Indian name of this Town, was Bantam. It took the 
name of Litchfield, wlien it was incorporated. The first, foun- 
ders built log- houses. The settlement proceeded as fast as 
could be reasonably expected, from (he circumstances. Dur- 
ing frequent wars between England and France, the Canadians 
and Indians often harrassed our borders ; and Litchtield, being 
a frontier town, was exposed to their ravages. 

Between the years 1720 and 1730, five houses were surroun- 
ded with pallisadoes. One of these stood on the ground near 
the present Court House, another about half a mile south, one 
east, and one west of the centre; and one in South Farms. 
Soldiers were then stationed here to guard the Inhabitants, both 
while they were at work in the lield, and while they were at- 
tending public worship on the Sabbath." 

" In May 1722, Capt. Jacob Griswold, being at work alone 
in afield about one mile west of the present Court House, two 
Indians suddenly rushed upon him from the woods, took him, 
pinioned his arms, and carried him off. They travelled in a 
northerly direction, and the same day arrived in some part of 
the township now called Canaan, then a wilderness. The In- 
dians kindled a fire, and after binding their prisoner hand and 
foot, lay down (o sleep. Griswold fortunately disengaging his 
hands and feet, while his arms were yet pinioned, seized their 
guns, and made his escape into the woods. After travelling- 
a small distance, he sat down anrl waited till the dawn of day ; 
and although his arms were still pinioned he carried both the 
guns. The savages awoke in the morning and finding their 
prisoner gone, immediately pursued him ; they soon overtook 
him, and kept in sight of him the greater part of the day, while 
he was making his way homeward. When they came near, 
he turned and pointed one of his pieces at them ; they then 
fell back. In this manner he travelled till near sunset, when 
he reached an eminence in an open field about one mile north- 
west of the present Court House. He then discharged one of 



24 

his guns, which hiimetliatcly summoned tlie people to his assis- 
tance. The Indians fled, and Griswold safely returned to his 
family. 

The capture of GrisWold made the inhabitants more cau- 
tious for a v.'hile ; but their fears soon subsided. In the month 
of August following, Mr. Joseph Harris, a respectable inhabi- 
tant, was at work in the Woods alone not far from the place 
where Griswold was taken ; and being attacked by a party of 
Indians, atlempted to make his escape. The Indians pursued 
him ; and finding that they could not overtake him, they shot 
him dead and scalped him. As Harris did not return, the in- 
habitants were alarmed, and some search was made for him ; 
but the darkness of the night checked their exertions. The 
next morning- they found his body, and gave it a decent burial. 
Harris Avas killed near the north end of the Plain, where the 
road turns to Milton, a httle east of a school house now stand- 
ing ; and for a long time after this plain was called Harris' 
Plain.*'* The place of his interment remained unmarked for 
more than a century, but rested in the memory of the older in- 
habitants. He was buried in the west burial ground, near the 
village of Litchfield. In 1830 a suitable monument, with an 
appropriate inscription, Avas erected at his grave by voluntary 
contribution. 

The summer of 1724, was a period of excitement and a- 
larm. The war between the English and the French, was 
then prevailing, and the latter used great efforts to incite the 
northern Indians, to attack the frontier settlements of the 
whites. " The conduct of the Indians at the north and west 
during this year, and especially their hostile movements in the 
vicinity of Litchfield, induced the government to take such pre- 
cautionary measures as the occasion demanded, in order to 
furnish protection to the weak and exposed settlements. A 
line of scouts was established, extending from Litchfield fo 
Turkey Hills, curving around the most northerly and westerly 
settlements in Simsbury, 

On the 4th of June 1724, Capt. Richard Case, of Simsbury, 

* Morris' Statistical account of Litchfield. 



25 

was directed to employ fen incn on this scouting- part}', to ren- 
dezvous at Litchfield. The men employed in this service w eie 
sergeant Jonathan Holcomb, John Hill, Nathaniel Ilolconib, 
Joseph Mills, William Buell, Samuel Petiiljone, Joseph Wil- 
coxson, Benajah Humphrey, Nathaniel Westover, and Charles 
Humphrey ; all belonging to Simsbury. They continued in 
the service until early in October."* 

During these difficulties some of the more timid of the In- 
habitants deserted their posts, and the intcr])osilioJi of the Le- 
gislature was deemed necessary, and therefore the following 
enactment was passed, viz : 

"A General Court holden at New-Haven, Oct. 11, 1721. — 
Upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Town of Litch- 
field, Bee it Enacted and Ordained, by the Governor, Assist- 
ants, and Deputies in General Court assembled, and by the 
authoriiy of the same, that whosoever hath or ought to have 
been an Inhabitant and is a proprietor of any of the Lands 
within the said Town of Litchfield, or have deserted and left 
said Town since difficulties have arisen there on the account 
of an Enemy, and shall neglect for the space of one month af- 
ter the rising of this Assembly to return to the said Town and 
there abide, or send some man in their room and stead to per- 
form and doe the necessary duties of watching and warding and 
the like during the continuance of the difficuUies of the warr, 
shall loose and forfeit all their right and estate in and n[)onany 
and all of the Lands aforesaid, and their estate, right and in- 
terest therein unto the Corporation of Connecticutt. And fur- 
ther, it is provided, that if any other mtui being now a proprie- 
tor and Inhabitant, or a proprietor and ought to have been an 
Inhabitant in the said Town, shall hercaOer during the contin- 
uance of fear and danger of the enemy, desert and leave the 
said Town, or neglect to repair thither and there personally 
abide, without constantly providing some other sulficient person 
in his room and stead, there to perform all duties as before- 
mentioned in the case of them who have already deserted, 
shall likewise forfeit their estates in and on all the lands in the 
Town aforesaid unto this Corporation. And further, it is pro- 

* rhelps' History of Simsbury. 
4 



26 

vided that upon complaint made to the Committee of Warr at 
Hartford of or against any such deserter, upon their sattisfac- 
tion of the truth thereof, the said Committee shall declare the 
forfeiture, and the said Committee are enahleJ to admit any 
other person who shall goe and abide there in the room of the 
deserter and perform the necessary duties as aforesaid, and that 
he shall hereafter receive a grant from this Court of the estate 
escheated as aforesaid for his further confirmation therein. 
And it is further, Ordered that five shillings per week shall he 
allowed for billeting souldiers in Litchfield for the Summer last 
past." 



— ©©© — 



CHAPTER VL 

Oiie of the earliest public measures of our piotis forefatherff 
was the construction of a convenient edifice for the public 
worship of God, " In April 1 723, the inhabitants voted to 
build their first Church ; and the house was finished within 
three years. It was built in a plain manner and without a 
steeple. Its dimensions were 45 feet in length and 35 in 
breadth." " At the raising of this building all the adult males 
in the whole township sat on the sills at onee."* The. Church 
stood in, and a little north of the center of, Meeting-House 
Street, and nearly opposite the northern extremity of Town 
Hill Street as it now runs. It was perhaps in view of the 
construction of this building that the following vote was passed 
on the 9th day of December 1723, viz : 

"Voted that whosoever shall sell or tranceport any pine 
bords out of the Town, shall forfit ten shillings per thousand, 
and in the same proportion for less or bigger quantities ; one 
half to the complainer, the other half into the town tresuery." 

In imz the second church was completed, and was erected 
on nearly the same ground occupied by the first. By a vote 

* Moifis' Statistical Account. 



27 

ot the town it was to ho 60 foet in K-iivith, 15 in width, witli 
s^teeplc. In 1829, the present Chureh of the 1st Ecclesiasti- 
cal Society was tinished, when the second church erected was 
taken down. 

The members of the Church of England in this town, asso- 
ciated together for public worship about the year 1746, and it 
appears from their lecords that the Episcopal Society "was or- 
ganized according to law, on the 26th of October, A, D. 1784.'* 
Their first Church was erected nearly opposite the carriage 
manufactory of Mi". William Lord, about one mile westerly from 
the Court House. Their Church in the village was cojnpleted 
in the year 1812. 

The Church of the Methodist Episcopal Society in this vil- 
lage, was erected in the year 1836, 

The west Burial Ground near the village, was reserved for 
that purpose at the first settlement of the Town. The east 
Burial Ground was laid out in 1754; and in 1767, the town 
granted by vote, "the use and improv^ement of it to Timothy 
Marsh during the Town's pleasure." 

The first inhabitants of tire Town, were peculiarly careful 
that none but j)ersons of good character, should be permitted 
to settle among them. If a stranger made a purchase in the 
plantation, a proviso was sometimes inserted in the deed, that 
the Inhabitants should accept of the purchaser, and that he 
should "run the risk of trouble from the Grand Committee." 

On the 1st of April 1724, it was " voted that the Commite of 
hartford and Wind.-;or Chouce Inhabitance. In Cace any new- 
are Brought into town, and the town Judg them not holsome, 
then to be Judged by Indifrant men, and by them Judged Good 
inhabitance, the cost to be paid by Litchfield, if not the Cost 
to be paid by the Commite that made Choice of said Inhabi- 
tantse." 

Bounties were paid for the destruction of Wolves, Snakes, 
&c. On the 16th of May 1740, it was " Voted that Avhosoev- 
er shall Kill and Distroy any Rattle Snakes, within the bounds 
of the town, any time before the tenth day of December next, 
bringing the tayl and som of the flesh to any one of the Select- 
ivien of the town, shall have three pence for each snake." 



28 

And for the encouragement of Fisheries, it was on the 12th 
of April 1779, " on request of Capt. John Marsh, consented, 
(by vote,) that he might have the exchisive Pickerel Fishing in 
the Loon Pond, (so called,) for the space of twenty years next 
after this day, provided he shall at his own expense procure 
Pickerel to breed and propagate therein, in a reasonable time.'* 
It seems however, that no advantage was taken of this privilege- 
Twenty-eight Pickerel were finit procured in the winter of 
1809, from a Pond in Southwick, Mass., and put into Cranber- 
ry or Loon Pond, Their progeny have so increased, that they 
are now taken in great quantities in all the Lakes in the Town- 
ship, and they are the most valuable Fish in our waters. Our 
Lakes arc Great Lak<!, the largest in the State, covering about 
nine hundred acres ; Mount Tom Pond lying partly in Wash- 
ington, seventy-two acres ; Little Pond, fifteen acres ; Cran- 
berry Pond, eight acres. Adjoining some of these Lakes, is a 
large tract of low meadow containing about five hundred acres, 
which is apparently alluvial. This land was highly esteemed 
by the first settlers ; so much did they value it, that in making 
a division of the Township, only four acres of 1 his meadow were 
at first allotted to each Right. It is said, that for the purpose 
of destroying the timber then grownng upon these meadows, by 
flooding, a dam was thrown across the outlet of the Great Lake, 
in consequence of which the fever and ague prevailed to a great 
extent. Since the dam was removed, it is doubtful whether a 
case of that character ever originated in the Township. The 
quality of the meadows is greatly depreciated, by reason, as has 
been supposed, of the fact that the dam of the old Paper Mill 
near the Jambs, (so called,) for many years obstructed in some 
degree the drainage of the meadows. 

Our highest mountain is Mount Tom, which is about seven 
hundred feet perpendicular height above the river at its base 
on the south side. 

" The lands in this Town afiTorded better hunting ground for 
the Indians than extensive intervals. Many of the hills were 
nearly cleared of trees by fires kindled for the purpose of hunt- 
ing." 

The Inhabitants of the Town, arc mostly natives of this 



29 

State, and many boa?t of tlioir descent from tlic Puriians of 
New England. 

"The manners and customs of the liisi s-etilers were plain 
and simple. Their clothing was of ihcir own domestic manu- 
facture ; and their food of their own raising. Foreign luxu- 
ries were scarcely made use of till about the year 1750. Their 
aumsements were of the most athletic kind." " The fnst use 
of the violin in this town for a dance was in the year 1718. 
The whole expense of the amusement, although the young 
people generally attended, did not exceed one dollar ; out of 
which the tiddler was paid. When this instance of profusion 
took place, parents and old people exclaimed, that they should 
1)6 ruined by the extravagance of the youth. In the year 1798 
a Ball, with the customary entertainment and variety of music, 
cost |;160, and nothing \\as said about it. Such has been the 
did'orence in the manners of Litchfield witliinhalf a century."* 

Slavery can hardly be said to have existed in this town, 
during the piesent century, and it has for years been extinct. 
In the year 1800, only seven blacks were accounted slaves, 
though some born such are still living. During the eighteenth 
century, however, it existed here in a mild form, as it did in 
other parts of the State. The records of Wills and Distribu- 
tions, show, that a considerable proportion of the personal es- 
tate of the most opulent of our early settlers consisted of ne- 
gro servants. 

Formerly, by a law of this State, if debtors had no other means 
to pay their debts, they were assigned in service for that purpose. 
And it is said to have been common for poor foreigners, who 
could not pay their passage money, to stipulate with the Cap- 
tain of the Ship, that he might assign them to raise the money. 
Persons so assigned, were called Redemptioners, and several 
were so held in service in this town. Among them was Mat- 
thew Lyon, a native of Ireland, who was assigned to Hugh 
Hannah, of Litchfield, for a pair of stag?, valued at £\ 2. Ly- 
on was afterwards a Member of Congress from Vermont, and 
from Kentucky, He was convicted under the famous alien 

* M»rris' Statistical Account. 



30 

and sedition Irvw, and fined. The fine was subsequently remit- 
ted by Congress, to him or his heirs. 

"There has been but one instance of murder in this Town, 
since its first settlement, and that was perpetrated by Jolm Ja- 
cob, an Indian, upon another Indian in the month of Februa- 
r}^ 1768. The murderer was executed the same year.* 

There have been but three executions in this town for capi- 
tal offences ; and these include all which have taken place in 
the County of Litchfield. The first was the Indian above nam- 
ed. The second was a man by the name of Barnct Davenport, 
a native of New Milford, convicted of both murder and arson. 
lie was executed on the 8lh day of May, 1780, aged twenty 
years. 

This murder, taken with all the attending circumstances, 
was one of the most inhuman, atrocious, and horrible deeds 
ever perpetrated in New England. From the criminal's own 
confession, it appears that his parentage and early education, 
were exactly calculated to produce his wicked life, and tragical 
end. Untutored and unrestrained by parental government, he 
was left to grow up at random. In the morning of life, no mor- 
ality was inculcated on him, and no sense of religion, either by 
precept or example. On the contrary he was from early 
years, unprincipled, profane, and impious. Before he was nine 
years old, he was expert in cursing and swearing, and an adept 
at mischief. At eleven years he began to pilfer; at thirteen 
he stole money ; at fifteen he entertained thoughts of murder, 
and rapidly waxed harder and bolder in wickedness. At nine- 
teen he actually murdered a family in cold blood. As a friend- 
less, \vandering stranger, he was taken into the house of Mr. 
Caleb Mallory, of Washington, and treated with the utmost 
kindness, in the month of December, 1779. Scarcely had two 

* Some years since, when rebuilding a house on the Harwinton Turnpike road, 
near Spruce Brook, formerly occupied by one Graves, the workmen, under the 
bedroom floor, disinterred the bones of a man in very good preservation. It was 
supposed that the remains were those of a pedlar or tiddler who had been mur- 
dered. A Court of Enquiry was held, but the investigation did not lead to the 
discovery of the murderer. Some suspicious circumstances seemed to point out 
the guilty person, but enough was not proved to justify his arrest. 



tnonths elapsed, before the inurJer a\ a? dclerminecl upon. 
The night of (he 3d of February, 17S0, Avas fixed on to ex- 
ecute the horrid purpose. With a heart hard as adamant, he 
hghted a candle, went into the lodg-ing room of his benefactors, 
and beat them to death with a chib. A httle grand-child, be- 
ing with its grand-parents, shared the same fate ; and two oth- 
ers were left in sound sleep to perish in the flames. Having 
kindled a fire in three of the rooms, he tied, after robbing- the 
house of its most valuable articles, Irom the murdered family 
and liurning house. But from an accusing conscience, and 
from the hand of justice, which followed hard upon his steps, he 
was unable to flee. He was taken, and executed by the sen- 
tence of court, the May ensuing, at Litchfield. 

The third was a man named Goss, for murdering bin wife, in 
one of the northern towns of this County. The sentence of 
death was pronounced upon an inhabitant, though not a na- 
tive of this town, named Washburn, for bestiality, in the year 
1801.* But the evening before the day appointed for his 
execution, he put an end to his own life by taking laudanum."f 
In 1832, Robert Cantine of Goshen, was tried here for the 
murder of his wife, was convicted, and sentenced to be 
hung. Owing however to certain mitigating circumstances, 
his sentence was commuted by the Legislature, to imprison- 
ment for life in the State Prison. In 1835, Agostinho Rabello, 
a native of Portugal, was indicted for the murder of a lad in 
Washington, named Ferris Beardslee. He was acquitted by 
the Jury, solely on the ground of insanity. Rabello was sub- 
sequently confined lor safe keeping, in our County Prison, and 
afterwards by special act of the Legislature, in the State Prison. 

* It was in 1799. f Morris Statistical Account. 



32 



CHAPTER VII. 

Few towns in the State so far inland, suffe^red more in pro- 
portion to their population, tlian Litchfield, during- the Revo- 
lutionary War. Almost every man of suitable ag'e and ability 
was ready and willing- to aid in person and otherwise, our infant 
Republic in its struggles for existence. With few exceptions, 
the purest Patriotism pervaded all, attended with a perfect 
understanding of their Chartered Rights and Privileges. Their 
hearts were loyal to their sovereign, but they would not submit 
to Tyranny, and were prompt to sustain their brethren in other 
Colonies, in resistance to unconstitutional oppression. 

The spirit manifest in the following proceedings of this Town, 
(drawn up by Gov. Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence,) upon the blockade of Boston, before the War 
of the Revolution, renders them worthy of remembrance. 

"The Inhabitants of Litchfield, in legal Town Meeting as- 
sembled, on the 17th day of August 1774, taking into conside- 
ration the Distress to Avhich the Poor of the Town of Boston, 
may likely be reduced, by the operation of an Act of the Brit- 
ish Parliament, for Blocking up their Port, and deeply commis- 
erating the unhappiness of a brave and loyal People, who are 
thus eminently suffering in a General Cause, for vindicating 
what every virtuous American considers an essential Right of 
this Country, think it is their indispensible Duty, to afford their 
unhappy distressed brethren of said Town of Boston, all rea- 
sonable Aid and Support ; and this they are the more readily 
induced to do, not only as the Inhabitants of said Town are 
thus severely condemned for their reluctance to submit to an 
arbitrary, an unconsented to, and consequently unconstitutional 
Taxation, but the whole of the great and loyal Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay, have been condemned unheard, in the loss 
of their Charter Privileges, by the heretofore unknown and 
unheaid of exertions of Parliamentary Powers, which they 
conceive is a Power claimed and exercised in sucli a manner 
as cannot fail of striking every unprejudiced mind with Horror 



ami Amazement, as being snbvcrsivc of all those inherent, es- 
sential and Constitutional Rights, Liberties and Privileges, 
which the good people of this Colony have ever held sacred, 
and even dearer than Life itself, nor ever can wish to survive ; 
not onl)'^ every idea of Property, but every emolument of civil 
life, being thereby rendered precarious and uncertain. 

In full confidence therefore, that no Degree of Evil thus intlic- 
ted on said Town and province, will ever induce them to give 
up or betray their own and the American constitutional Rights 
and Privileges, especially as they cannot but entertain the 
most pleasing Expectations, that the Committees of the seve- 
ral North American Provinces, who are soon to meet at Phila- 
delphia, will in their wisdom, be able to point out a Method of 
Conduct, effectual for obtaining Redress of their grievances, a 
method to which, (when once agreed upon by said Committee) 
this Town will look upon it their duty strictly to attend. And 
in the mean time earnestly recommend, that subscriptions be 
forthwith opened in this Town, under the care of Reuben 
Smith, Esq., Capt. Lynde Lord, and Mr. William Stanton, who 
are hereby appointed a Committee to receive and forward to the 
Selectmen of Boston, for the use of the Poor in that place, all 
such Donations as shall be thereupon made for that purpose ; 
as also to correspond with the Committee of Correspondence 
there or elsewhere, as there may be occasion. 

We also take this opportunity public kly to return our thanks 
to the members of the Honorable House of Representatives of 
this Colony, for their patriotic and loyal Resolutions, passed 
and published in the last Assembly on the occasion, and order 
them to be entered at large on the public Records of this Town, 
that succeeding ages may be faithfully furnished with authen- 
tic Credentials of our inflexible attachment to those inestima- 
ble Privileges, which we and every honest American glory in 
esteeming our unalienable Birthright and Inheritance," 

Upon the commencement of the W'ar, this Town with vigor 
entered into the contest. The principal business at Town 
Meetings for several years, seems to have been the adoption of 
measures to sustain the cause, and to carry into effect the or- 
ders and acts of the Council of Safety, and of the Legislature ; 

5 



24 

soldier.s were encouiageci to enlist; their pay was guaranteed" 
by tlie Town ; bounties were granted them ; provisions were 
provided for their Families, and clothing for the soldiers. In 
the year 1777, eight coutinentai Battalions were raised in this 
State, of which the Quota belonging to this Town was 92. 

A large proportion of those taken Prisoners at Fort Washing- 
ton, were from this Town ; abou4; thirty of whom died in the 
Prison ships, and other Prisons in New York. Throughout the 
War, our young men were constantly enlisted into the Army. 
The Militia were fally organized, and drafts, were continually 
made upon them. In times of alarm they would turn out all- 
most en masse. Our Litchfield Troops, were found at the cap- 
ture of New York,- on the Connecticut coast, on the Hudson, 
at Boston, at Ticonderoga, and Crown Pointy at the surrenders 
of Burgoyne and Cornwallis, the capture of Stoney Point, in 
the Battles of White Plains, Trenton, and Princeton,, and in al- 
most erery military transaction, worthy of note, during the 
eventful struggle. 

The following is from- a paper of Payne K. Kilbourn : 
" We recently had put into our hands several MSS., left by 
the late Col. Bezaleel Beebe, of Litchfield, from which \Ve 
glean the following facts and names. The annexed document, 
which sufficiently explains itself, contains the autographs of 
each individual whose name is attached to it. This regiment, 
which, it will be seen, was raised previous to the Declaration 
of Independence, was designed for the defence of New York. 
When it was known that Capt. Beebe had received orders to 
raise a company for that service, the enthusiasm of the Whi^ 
Was unbounded. A veteran v*'ho died within the last few years, 
stated that Y,hen the news reached' him, he started on a run for 
the captain's head quarters, fearing the roll would be full before 
he arrived. Capt. B. received' his orders on a Sunday, and' by 
the following Saturday, the company had been raised, armed 
And equipped, and were on the march toward Fairfield. 

We the Subscribers being convinced of the Necessity of a 
body of Forces to defeat certain Wicked Purposes, formed by 
the Instruments of Ministerial Tyranny, do solemnly engage 
ourselves and Inlist as Private Soldiers, in a Regiment to be 



315 



C-ommandcd by Col. Andrew Ward, Jr., under (he command 
/of Maj'r General Lee, for the Term of Eij^ht Weeks at tlie ut- 
most, from the Day we March from Fairfield, which is the 
piace of RendevouE ; the Hon'ble Maj'r General Lee having 
'Given his Word and Honor, that we shall not be Detained a 
/sinafle Day after said Term. 

Dated al Litchfield^ 2\st day of January, 17.7G. 



Briant Stoddard, 
James Woodruff, 
Oliver Woodrulf, 
Phineas Goodwin, 

Caleb Munson, 
Abraham Wadhams, 
Martin Nash, 
Oliver Griswold, 
Zadock Gibbs, Jr. 
Josiah Bartholomew, Jr. 
George Dear, Jr. 
Elisha Mayo, 
Nathaniel Newell, 
.Luman Bishop, 
Asaph Benham, 

Joseph Finney, 
Peleg Holmes, 
Alexander Sackett, 
Joel Barnes, 
^ebedee Sturtevant, 
Martin Curtiss, 



Elihu Harrison, 
Roger N. Whittlesey, 
Charles Woodrutf, Jr. 
Joseph Sanford. 

George Dear, - 
Jacob Gay lord, 
Abram Beach, 
Elihu Grant, 
'Ichabod Tuttle, 
Chauncey Beach, 
Jesse Stanley, 
Adino Hale, 
Allen Lucas, 
William Starr, 

Heber Gilbert, Jr. 
ZebuUm Palmer, 
Joseph Peters, 
(Luther Comstock, 
Daniel Swan, 
Truman Gilbert, 
Levi Swan. 



Heman Brown, 

Those who have a knowledge of the leading men in Litch- 
tneld county fifty or sixty years ago, will recognize in the above 
list, the names of many of her most prominent and influential 
citizens — men of wealth and enterprise, who, though surround- 
ed by the endearments of domestic life, voluntarily enlisted as 
private soldiers in that dangerous expedition. They were 
mainly from the towns of Litchfield, Torrington, Goshen and 
Warren, and were all enlisted from the 21st to the 25th of 
January. 

Litchfield, i6th Januanj, J. D. 1776. 

We the subscribers, being requested to apprise the Arms 
ibelonging to Capt. Bezaleel Beebe's company, in Col. Andrew 
Ward's Regt., going on an ex.pedition to New York under the 



36 

command of General Cli. Lee ; we accordingly apprised the 
same, being first duly sworn, viz : 

[We omit the figures.] 
Elihu Harrison's Gun, Bayonet and Cartridge Box, in his own 

hands. 
Roger N. Whittlesey's Gun, in the hands of Briant Stoddard. 
Joseph Sanford's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands. 
Nathaniel Allen's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands. 
Obed Stodder's Gun, Bayonet, Cartridge box and belt. 
Joshua Smith's Gun in his own hands. 
Zebulon Bissell's Gun in his own hands. 
James Woodruff's Gun carried by Stephen Brown. 
Phineas Goodwin's Gun, Bayonet an(! Belt. 
Whiting Stanley^s Gun carried by James Cramplon. 
Oliver Woodruff's Gun carried by himself. 
Hezekiah Agard's Gun carried by John Lyman. 
Jedediah Strong's Gun, Bayonet and Belt carried by William 

Patterson, 
Jedediah Strong's Gun carried by Frederick Stanle3% 
Lieut. Jonathan Mason's Cartridge box. 
Samuel Canfield's Gun carried by himself. 
Noah Garnsey's Gun carried by T. Weed. 
Sergt. Ben j. Bissell's Gun and Bayonet carried by himself. 
Asa Osborn's Gun and Cartridge box carried by himself. 
Jedediah Strong's Gun carried by Benj. Taylor. 
Reuben Sinhh, Esq.'s Gun, Bayonet, Case and Belt carried by 

Capt. Beebe. 

Capt. John Osborn's Gun carried by Moses Taylor. 

Abraham Bradley, ) . 
rri r^ f Apprisers 

Ihomas Catlin, > .-u 

r\ c< V ou oath. 

Ubed Stoddor. j 

At a later date of the same year, (1776,) thirty-six picked 
men were placed under command of Capt. Beebe, to aid in the 
defence of Fort Washington, near New York. On the 1 6lh of 
November, as is well known, the Fort, after a desperate resis- 
tance on the part of its defenders, fell into the hands of the 
British, and all the Americans were either killed or made pris- 
oners. The subsequent treatment and sufferings of the pris- 
oners, (who were confined in the Sugar House and on boaid 
the prison-ships,) is perhaps without a parallel in the history of 
the wars of any civihzed nation. Crowded into a narrow 
space, without air, and for the first two days without food, con- 
tagion and death was the natural consequence. The dysenta- 
ry, small pox, and other terrible diseases broke out among 



them, and very ^ew of the whole number surviveil the terrible 
ordeaL On ihe 27th of Dccendjcr, an excl-.ang-c of jiorsons 
took place ; but only eight, of those who survived, (viz. Marsh, 
Woodniir, R. Loomis, B. Beach, N. Beach, Maishall, Brunson 
and Benedict, were able to sail for Connecticut, — four of whom, 
(Marsh, B. Beach, Marshall and Loomis,) died on the way. 
The remainder of those who were living at that date, being too 
sick to be removed, were left behind, Avhere all, with a singhi 
exception, (Sergt. Mather,) died within a (c\v days — most of 
them with the small pox. 

Here follow the names of the soldiers alluded to. The notes 
prefixed, appear to liave been added at the dillerent periods 
corresponding with the dates. 

^An Account of the Prisoners Jfames and Places of Confinement. 
Seigt. Cotton Marther, returned home. 
Sergt. David Hall, died of the small pox on board the Grosve- 

ner, Dec. 11, 177G. 
Elijah Loomis, died. 

Gershom Gibbs, died on board the ship, Dec. 29, 177G. 
Timothy Stanly, died on board the ship, Dec. 2G, 177G. 
Amos Johnson, died Dec. 26, 1776. 
Timothy Mar?h, died on his way home. 
Berius Beach, died on his way home. 
Samuel Vaill, died on board the Grosvener, Dec. 27, 1776. 
Nathaniel Allen, died of the small ])0X, Jan. 1, 1777. 
Enos Austin, died of the small pox, Dec. 4, 1776, in the evening. 
Gideon Wilcoxson, died. 
Thomas Mason, reached home. 
Alex'r McNicl, died. 

Daniel Smith, died in New York, of small pox. Jan. I, 1777. 
Noah Beach, reached home. 
Daniel Benedict, reached home. 
Isaac Gibbs, died Jan. 15, 1777. 
Oliver Marshal, died on his way home. 
Solomon Parmely, went on board the ship, and I fear he is 

drowned, as I cannot find liim. 
David Olmsted, died Jan. 4, 1777. 
Jered Stuart, died Jan. 26, 1777, in the morning'. 



38 

Jolin Lyman, dic<l Jan. 26, 1777. 

Elisha Brovviison, died on his way home, 

The above Prisoners are ct Livingston's Sii^ar House, 

Zebulon Bissel, died at Woodbury on iiis way home. 

Aaron Stoddard, died Jan. 12, 1777. 

John Parnieiy, died Jan. 15, 1777. 

Joel Taylor, died Jan. 9, 1777. 

James Little, reached home. 

Phineas Goodwin, died Jan. 5, !777. 

The above at the Church called the JVori/i Church. 

Oliver Woodruff, reached home. 
Remembrance Loomis, died on his way home. 
The above at Bridwell. 

The above Prisoners belong to Capt. Beebe's Company, 
Col. Bradley's Regiment. 

Corp'l Sam'l Coe, '] Were either killed or 
Jeremiah Weed, (made their escape from 
Joseph Spencer, f Fort Washington, on the 
John Whiting, J 16th of Nov. 1776.' 
Capt. Beebe, the commander of the above company, in con- 
sideration of his office, was allowed the limits of the city, but 
was compelled to provide himself with food, lodging, &c., or 
go without. He was accustomed to visit his men daily, so long 
as any remained, but could do little to alleviate their wretched 
condition. He was not exchanged wiih other prisoners, but 
was confined within the 'limits' for about a year, at his own 
expense." 

I have recently found a Deposition made on the the Sd of 
May, 1777, before Andrew Adams, Esq., J. P., by Mr. Thomas 
Catlin, of this Town, (the Father of Doct. Abel Catlin,) who 
was a Lieutenant in the American Army at New York in 1776. 
Lieut. Catlin gives this account, iu substance, of the treatment 
of himself and others by the British, viz : 

That he was taken a Prisoner by the British Troops on 
New York Island, Sept. 15, 1776, and confined with a great 
number in close Gaol, eleven days ; that he had no sustenance 
for forty-eight hours after he was taken, that for eleven whole 
days they had only about two days allowance, and their Pork 



89 

tv'as offensive to the smell. That forty-two were confined m 
one house, till Fort Washington was taken, when the house 
Avas crowded with other Prisoners. After which they were 
informed they should have two-thirds allowance, which consist- 
ed of very poor Irish Pork, Bread hard, mouldy and wormy, 
made of canail and dregs of llax seed. That the British Troops 
had good bread. Brackish water wa^ given to the Prisoners, 
and he had seen $1 50 given for a common pail of water. On- 
ly between three and four lbs. of Pork was given three men 
for three days. That for near three months, the private sold- 
iers were confined in the Churches, and in one were eight hun- 
dred and fifty. That about the 25th of December, 177G, he 
and about two hundred and twent3'-five others, were put on 
board the Glasgow at New York, to be carried to Connecticut for 
exchange. They were on board eleven days, and kept on 
black coarse broken bread, and less pork than before. Twen- 
ty-eight died during the eleven days I They were treated 
with great cruelty, and had no fire for sick or well. They 
were crowded between decks, and many died through hard- 
ship, ill usage, hunger and cold. 

The following facts appear in a letter written by Doct. Reu- 
ben Smith, dated at Litchfield, May 12Lh, 1777, relating to the 
Danbury alarm, &:c. : 

" Sunday morning, 27th April, about one o'clock, we were 
alarmed ; our people turned out spiritedly ; came up with rear 
of the enemy about eleven the next day, a little below Wilton 
Meeting House, and pursued them aboard their* ships. Paul 
Peck was killed in the last attack on the enemy. Levi Peck, 
Thomas Peck's son, was wounded in the shoulder about the 
same time ; in Wilton, Ozias Goodwin was wounded in the 
arm, and Salmon Buel had one of his thighs broken, and the 
other shot through with the same ball. 

The infamous Daniel Griswold, came into the western part 
of the Town, the morning before the alarm, and was there con- 
cealed till Monday, and took off to join the ministerial army, 
David Kilborn, Benjamin Kilborn's son Cha's, Isaac Kilborn's 
son Abraham, and Samuel Kilborn son to Giles Kilborn, Jon- 
athan Smith, Jr., and his brother Elisha, (who was enlisted in 



40 

the light horse.) Davkl Joy, Ephraim Bates, Benjamin Doolit- 
tie, Josiah Stone, and John Davies' youngest son David, and 
one John Beach of AVoodliury who lived at Josiah Stone's. 

The Wednesday following they were taken, (except Benja- 
min Doolittle, and Charles Kilborn, who it is said were killed in 
attempting to escape,) and were carried to Derby, where they 
were tried by a Court Martial, and Griswold was sentenced to 
be hanged ; which sentence was executed the Monday follow- 
ing, at New Haven. The rest were })ardoned, upon their en- 
listinir into the Continental Armv durins; the War. 

Governor Franklin, is confined in our Gaol, and a constant 
Guard is kept. We trust he will find it difficult to escape, 
should he attempt it. I understand, he utterly denies the 
charge of dispensing Pardons and Protections." 

Of Paul Peck, alluded to in the Letter of Doct. Smith, it is 
said, " he was the most expert hunter of the time in which he 
lived. At the Danbury Alarm, he put his large Gun in order, 
and followed the enemy to Compo, on their retreat, and took 
a station behind a stone wall, and every shot told, until he was 
rushed upon by the enemy, who took his gun from him and 
dashed his brains out with it." He was killed April 28th, 1777, 
aged about seventy-five years. 

Duiing the War, Litchfield was a place of deposite, for Pro- 
visions, and other Continental Stores. Workshops for the Ar- 
my were established here, and Prisoners of War were confined 
in our Prison. 

Mr. Matth'ews, the English Mayor of New York, was here 
as a prisoner of War. The first pleasure carriage, [a chair,] 
brought into this Town, was by him presented to Mrs. Major 
Seymour, whose husband had the custody of the Mayor, and 
was in use as lately as A. D. 1812. The Mayor's Travelling 
Trunk, is still in this town in the possession of one of Major Sey- 
mour's descendants. Mr. Franklin, the gentleman spoken of 
by Doct. Smith as being confined in our Gaol, was the British 
Governor of New Jersey. 

An Equestrian statue of King George the 3d was during the 
War transported to Litchfield, to be cast into Bullets for the use 
of our armj'. The Statue was imported from London. Among 



41 

the Archives of the British Government, Mr, John RomeVn 
Brodhead-, the agent of tlie State of New York to procure Doc- 
uments in Europe relative to the Colonial History of that State, 
recently found Letters giving an accoimt of the erection of the 
Statue and of its demolition, from which I make the following 
extracts, viz : 
Extract from a Letter from Lieut. Gov. Cadwallader Coldcn to 

Lord Hillsborough. Dated New-York. August 18, 1770. 

"An equestrian guilt statue of the King, made by direction 
of, and purchased by this Colony, came over in one of the last 
ships from London. On Thursday last it was opened to view, 
erected on its proper pedestal, in a square near the Fort, and 
fronting the principial street of the city. I was attended on 
this occasion by the gentlemen of the Council, and members 
of Assembly, then in town, the magistrates of the city, the 
clergy of all denominations, and a very larg-e numbiM- of the 
principal inhabitants. Our Loyalty, firm attachment and af- 
fection to his Majesty's person was expressed by drinking the 
King's health, and along continuance of his reign, under a dis- 
charge of 32 pieces of cannon, a band of music playing at the 
same tirne from the ramparts of the fort. The General and 
and officers of the army gave us the honor of their company on 
the occasion. The whole company walked in procc-sion 
from the fort, round the statue, while the spectators expiessed 
their joy by loud acclamations, and the procession having re- 
turned with me to the fort, the ceremony concluded with great 
cheerfulness and good humour." 

Extract fiom a Letter of Governor Tryon to Lord George 

Germain. 
" Ship Duchess of Gordon, ) 

Off Staten island, 14th August, 1776. } 
*' The confederate Colonics have declared themselves inde- 
pendent States. Enclosed is a printed copy of their declar- 
ation of Independency, which was published through the 
streets of New-York the middle of last month, where the 
King's statue has been demolished, as well as the King's arms 
in the City Hall, the established churches shut up, and every 
veatf^c of Royalty, so far as has been in ihe ptowsr of the Reb- 

5 



4i 

els, done away. The poisons of the JSIayois of the cities of 
York and Albany, Judges, Counsellors, Magistrates and prin- 
cipal gentlemen of the country that are not in rebellion, seized 
and secured, and even down to the meanest planters persecu- 
ted and tyrannized over. 

The whole armament destined for this part of America, ex- 
cept the last division of the Hessions, being now assembled 
here, I expect, by the courage and strength of this noble army, 
tyranny will be crushed and legal government restored." 

Tyranny was indeed crushed and legal government restored^ 
but not }3i'ecisely in the manner anticipated by Gov. Tryon. 

A paper read before the New-York Historical Society, in 
October 1844, by George Gibbs, Esq., gives this further ac- 
count of the representative of his Majesty. 

"Account of the statue of George III., formerlt 

STANDIN(5 IN the BoWLING GrEEN, NeW YoRK. 

Most of the members are probably aware that an equestrian 
statue of King George III. stood upon the Bowling Green, in 
this city, prior to the Revolution, and was overthrown soon af- 
ter its commencement. I believe, however, that its subsequent 
fate has never been recorded, and having in my possession a 
paper giving authentic information on the subject, I have sup- 
posed that the royal effigy might be worth a brief obituary. 

Holt's (New York) Gazette, as quoted by Mr. Dunlap, gives 
the following notice of its erection : 

'August 21st, 1770, being the birth day of Prince Frederick, 
the father of George III., an elegant equestrian statue of his 
present Majesty, George III. was erected in the Bowling Green, 
near Fort George. On this occasion the memb<!rs of his Maj- 
esty's Council, the City Corporation, the Corporation of the 
Chamber of Conuncrcc, the Corporation of the Marine Socie- 
ty, and most of the gentlemen of the City and army waited on 
his honor, the Lieutenant. Governor C. Colden, in the Fort, at 
his request ; v.hen his Majesty's and othiu- loyal healths were 
drank under a discharge of thirty-two pieces of cannon, from 
the Battery, accompanied with a band of music. This beauti- 
ful statue is made of metal, (Dunlap says by way of parenthe- 



43 

■sis, "■' ("lie writer did not on such an occasion like to say ichal 
metal represented his royal majesty, the best of Kings ; if was 
lead'') beings the first equestrian one of his present majesty, and 
is (he workmanship of that celebrated statuary, Mr, Wilton of 
London.' 

S3'"mptoras of disloyalty, betokening revolution I presume, 
soon manifested themselves in the rude treatment of the effigy, 
for on the Gth February, 1773, (13th Geo. III. Ch. 1580,) an 
act was passed *to prevent the defacing the statues which are 
erected in the city of New York.'' 

Upon the above account of Holt's, Mr. Dunlap observes: 

'This statue stood till sometime in 1776. I saw it in 1775. 
In 1776 it was thrown down, and tradition says converted into 
bullets to resist his gracious majesty's soldiers when sent to en- 
force the doctrine of ' the sovereignty of British Parliament over 
the Colonies in all cases whatsoever,' the doctrine of Mr. Pitt, 
Lord Chatham, which he died in an effort to enforce. .The 
pedestal stood until long after the Revolution. No fragment 
of the horse or liis rider was ever seen after its overthrow, and 
''O completely had the memory of this event (the creeling the 
only ecpiestrian statue ever set up in New York) been lost, that 
I have never found a person who could tell me on what occa- 
sion it was ordered, or when placed in the Bowling Green.' 

In fact so much was the statue forgotten, tbat Watson in his 
sketches (p. 30,) has entirely mistaken the personage repre- 
sented. Speaking of the overthrow, he says with a curious re- 
vival of tory feeling : ' My friend, Mr. John Baylie was present 
in April, ^76, and saw the degrading spectacle. He saw no 
decent people present ; a great majority were shouting boys. 
The insult, if so meant, was to the dead, as the statue was of 
•deorge H., our most gracious King.' 

Some cotemporary notices of the destruction of this effigy 
have been pointed out to me, which I will cite, and which will 
show that Watson was wrong not merely us to the person, but 
as to the time of its occurrence, which was immediately after 
the news of the declaration of Independence. The first is 
from a book of general orders issued by Washington, the origi- 
nal of which is in the possession of the Society. It is as follows ; 



44 

^ July 10. Tlio' the General doubts not the persons who 
pulled down and mutilated the statue in Broadway last night, 
acted in the public cause, yet it ha"S so much the appearance of 
riot and want of order in the army, that he disapproves the 
manner and directs that in future these things shall be avoided 
by the soldiery and left to be executed by proper authority.' 

The next is in a letter from Ebenezer Hazard to General 
Gates, dated July 12th, 1776, which will be found among the 
Gates papers, also in the Society's Collection, and is as follows : 
*The King of England's arms have been burned in Phila- 
delphia and his statue here has been pulled down to make mus- 
ket balls of, so that his troops xcill probably have melted majcsiy 
fired at them.'' 

Another is in a letter from New York, of July 11th, 1776, 
published in the New Hampshire Gazette of the 20th. 

'New York, July 11. Last Monday evening the equestri- 
an statue of George HI., with tory pride and folly raised in the 
year 1770, was by the Sons of Freedom laid prostrate in the 
dust, the just desert of an ungrateful tyrant. The lead where- 
with this monument is made is to be lun into bullets, to assim- 
ilate with the brains of our infatuated adversaries, who to gain 
a peppercorn, have lost an empire. Qiiem Deus vult perdere, 
prius dementat. A gentleman who was present at the ominous 
fall of leaden majesty, looking back to the original's hopeful 
beginning, pertinently exclaimed in the language of the angel 
to Lucifer ' If thou be'est he ; but ah, how fallen ! how chan- 
ged ! !" 

A note to this letter by the editor marks the allusion to Lord 
Clare's declaration in Parliament, that a peppercorn in acknowl- 
edgement of Biitain's right to tax America, was pf jiiore imporr 
tance than millions without it. 

The destruction ot the statue is also alluded to and incor- 
rectly attributed to General Washington in a smutt)' tory pro- 
duction, entitled *The Battle of Brooklyn, a farce in two acts, 
as it was performed on Long Island, on Tuesday, the 27th day 
of August, 1776, by the Representatives of the Tyrants of 
of America assembled at Philadelphia : New York, printed for 
J. liivington, in the year of the Rebellion, 1776.' 



45 

Beily, a servant of ' Latly Gate^',' is roprcs-cnted as compli- 
menting General Washington in this wise : 

Betty. ' Lord ! Lord ! nicni, did he not make codfish of 
them all at Boston ! and has he not seen tory men rid upon 
rails at New York by the tailors and cohlers of the town ? And 
more, my Lady, did he not order the King's statue to l)e pullrd 
down and the l)ead cut oiYI For God's sake, mem, what 
would'st have of a hero V 

Lady G. ^Codfish at Boston! It is really an odd term 
Betty ; but he did no more than that old fool Putnam would 
have done. His not forbidding that insult to humanity at New 
York, was countenancing an act of barbarism, and none but a 
little minded barbarian would have suflcred the arts to be tram- 
pled under foot as he did, in the case of the king's statue.' 

Mr. Stephen's (Incidents of Travelii) Russia, Lc, vol. 2, p. 
23,) mentions having met with a curious memorial of its des- 
truction, and at an out of the way place. This was a gaudy 
and flaring^ engraving in a black wooden frame, rcprcseiiling 
the scene of its destruction, which he found in a tavern at Chi- 
offf in Russia. ' The grouping of the picture,' he says, ' was 
rude and grotesque, the ringleader benig a long negro, stripped 
to his trowsers, and straining with all his might upon a rope, 
one end of which was fastened to the head of the statue and 
the other tied round his own waist, his white teeth and the 
whites of his eyes being particularly conspicuous on a heavy 
ground of black.' How this picture found its way to Russia, it 
would be difficult to imagine ; it would certainly be not less a 
curiosity here than there. 

The document I have mentioned gives an account of its re- 
maining history in a shape which history seldom assumes, that 
of an account current. It is preserved among the papers of 
General, afterwards Governor, Oliver Wolcotl, of Connecticut. 
It is a statement of the number of cartridges made from the 
materials of the statue by the ladies of Litchfield, and is in these 
words ; — 

Mrs. Marvin, 3456 cartridges, 

" *' on former account, 2602 

6058 

Rutb Marvin on former account, 6204 



46 

Not seat to court house 449 packs, 5388 

Tiaura, ou former account, 4250 

Not sent to court house 344 packs, 4128 

Mary Ann, on former account, 5762 

Not sent to the court house 119 packs, 
out of which I let Colonel Ferley Howe 
have 3 packs, 502! 

Frodcvirk, on former account, 708 

Not sent to court house, 19 packs, 228 



11,592 

8378 

10,790 
936 



37,754 
Mrs. Beach's two accounts, 2002 

Made hy sundry persons, 2182 

Gave Litchfield militia, on alarm, 50 

Let the regiment of Col. Wig^lesworth have 300 



Cartridges, Nc. 42,288 

Overcharged in Mrs. Beach's account, 200 

42,088 
The original account is in General Wolcott's hand writing, 
and is endorsed 'an account of the number of cartridges made.' 
There is no date to it, nor is there mention made by him of the 
fact of their being made from the statue, but a memorandum 
added by his son, the last Governor Wolcott, explains it as fol- 
lows : — 

''N. B. An equestrian statue of George the Third of Great 
Britain, was erected in the city of New York on the Bowling 
Green, at the lower end of Broadway; most of the materials 
were lead, but richly gilded to resemble gold. At the begin- 
ning of the revolution this statue was overthrown. Lead be- 
ing then scarce and dear, the statue was broken in pieces, and 
the metal transported to Litchfield as a plnce of safety. The 
ladies of this village converted the lead into cartridges, of which 
the preceding is an account. O. W.' 

The Mrs. and Miss Marvin and Mrs. Beach, mentioned in 
the paper, belonged to families who yet reside in Litchfield ; 
the other persons named were the two daughters and the 
youngest son of General Wolcott 



47 

Litclifield, it may be noticed, Ava.s, diu-Jiig the Avar, a place of 
great importance as a military depot. ATler the ca'pture oi' 
New York by the British in 177G, all commuuicatiun between 
New England and Pennsylvania was tinned to the westwaid 
of the liighlands on the Hudson, and the troops and ijiores 
were usually passed through that village as a point on ilie most 
convenient route to the posts on the livcr yet in pos*;ession oC 
the Americans. General Wolcott, wlio was a member of the 
Continental Congress, lived there, and during the intervals of 
his congressional attendance, was constanily occupied in rais- 
ing troops to supply the requisitions of Washington, Pi'tnani 
and Gates. It appears from his letters that he returned to 
Connecticut shortly after the adoption of the Declaration of 
Independence, of which lie was one ot tlie signers, and it is 
probable that the statue was transported there at his instance, 
immediately after i(s destruction. Of its identity as ihe mate- 
rial for the cartridges above mentioned, there can be no doubt. 
The late Governor Wolcott, on graduating from Yale College 
in 1778, was ajipointed to an ollice in the quartermaster's de- 
partment, under General Greene, and was posted at Liichfield, 
in charge of the stores there. His opportunity for know ing the 
fact, as mentioned in his note, was therefore certain. The 
late Hon. Judge Wolcott, moreover, who tigures in the account 
as ' Frederick,' and who was a boy at the time, informed me a 
few years ago that he well remembered the circumstance of 
the statue being sent there, and that a shed was erected for the 
occasion in an apple orchard adjoining the house, where his 
father chopped it up with the Avood axe, and the * girls' had a 
frolic in running the bullets and making them up into cartrid- 
ges. I suppose the alarm of the militia, on which some were 
distributed, was Tryon's invasion in 1777, when Danbury was 
burnt. On this occasion fourteen men, the last in Litchfield 
capable of bearing arms, were started at midnight to aid in re- 
pulsing the enemy. 

The estimation in which lead was hold in those days may be 
imagined from the fact that the above account of cartridges is 
filed carefully among returns of troops, accounts of requisitions 
upon the slates, and issues of bills of credit 



48 

This incident in revolutionary history might, had it found its 
•Way to hiiTii have well barbed a shaft at King George from 
Peter Pindar's own bo\v ; and we may suppose-, from the 
grave attempts at waggery in the extracts above giVeh, that a 
great deal of wit of one kind and ailother was eixpendfed on 
the occasion. I suspect that the monarch, could he have lis- 
tened to the gossip over the melting ladle, might have exclaim- 
ed with Richard, 

' Let not tile heavens hear these tell tale women 
Rail at the Lord's anointed.' " 



At a meeting of the Inhabitants of Litchfield, on the 6th of 
January 1778, to take into consideration the articles of Confed- 
eration, and perpetual Union, between the States, it was "Vo- 
ted, unanimously, that the said articles of Confederation be ap- 
proved, and that the Representatives of said Town be instructed 
1o use their influence and vote in General Assembly, to invest 
the Delegates of this Slate, with competent powers ultimately 
in the name and behalf of this State, in Continental Congress, 
to subscribe and confirm the said ai tides of Confederation and 
perpetual Union between the said States." 

It seems the sins of the children were visited upon their 
fathers. 

" At a Town Meeting holden on the 25ih of March, 1782, 
Stephen Stone, Elijah Giis\A old, and Benjamin Kilborn, hav- 
ing lately been assessed on examination by the Civil Authority 
and Selectmen, agreeably to LaWj for each having a son gone 
to the enemy, and having requested a hearing in Town Meet- 
ing, and being heard accordingly^ the question was proposed 
relative to said Stone in particular, and the Town by vote did 
not discharge said assessment." 

At a Town Meeting 2d April 1782, " on the question wheth- 
er Stephen Stone shall be acquitted from his assessment, &:c., 
Voted in affirmative. Whereupon Elijah Griswold and Benja- 
min Kilborn, requesting the Town to release them from the 
assessment. Voted to raise the whole number of recruits requi- 
red of this Town for continental service, by Tax," &c. 

Note. — Chas. Kilborn and Benj Doolittle, (mentioned in the Letter of Doct- 
Smith,) escaped. Kilborn went to Canada, and died a few years eincc ; Dcwlit; 
tld is siill liVins in svfc'Stern Nc\v Vork 



49 

From the Slate Records it appears tliat — 

Aug-. 1, 1776. Letters from the Convention of New-York 
sent by Mr. DePcyster, respecting the prisoners sent from 
New-York to Litchfield Jail were read ; and thereupon order- 
ed that the Mayor of New-York should be brouglit to Hart- 
ford, and there confined. Gilbert Forbes and William Forbes 
were directed to be confined in Litchfield jail, and the other 
ten to be taken to Norwich jail. 

Aug-. 26, 1776. Last Monday, David Matthews, Mayor of 
the City of New-York, was brought from Litchfield, and on 
Friday was returned to Litchfield, to remain under the care of 
Capt. Moses Seymour. 

Feb. 11, 1777. John Marsh 3d, of Litchfield, applied for 
liberty to take Mark Prindle of Harwinton, (a tory at Mans- 
field,) and him have before the Court at Litchfield, in discharge 
of his bail bond, given for said Prindle in another ca.-?e ; which 
was granted by the Governor and Council, Avith their order to 
return said Prindle after his trial, to Amariah Williams in said 
Mansfield. 

April 30, 1777. An order from Congress was received, to 
confine Gov. Franklin, without pen, ink, or paper ; and direct- 
ed him to be conveyed under guard, by the Sheriff of Hartford 
County, forthwith to Litchfield jail. 

Sept. 19, 1777. An order on the pay table was drawn in 
favor of Lynde Lord, Esq., for jGlOO towards the expense of 
the guard placed over Gov. Franklin. 

Jan. 8, 1778. Upon the information of the State Attorney 
against John Marsh, a Cornet in a troop of horse under Capt. 
Moses Seymour, for disobedience of orders, the committee 
found the facts true as staled, and found that he had recently 
taken the oath of fidelity and declared his willingness to serve 
his country, risk his life and fortune in its defence, &r. The 
Assembly ordered said Marsh to pay the cost taxed at £8.] 4.5, 
and the complaint dismissed. 

Jan. 8, 1778. The Assembly allowed Salmon Buell, of 
Litchfield, who was wounded in the Danbury expedition, by 
a ball in both his thighs, dC60 for his relief. 

7 



50 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Not many years after the establishment of our National In- 
dependence, symptoms of disaffection to the arbitrary and cru- 
el reign of Alcohol began to manifest themselves. But to the 
present generation belongs the honor of organizing an extend- 
ed and regular force to repel his attacks. Many brilliant vic- 
tories have been achieved, and it may reasonably be expected 
that the same g-eneration will witness his final overthrow. 
Honor to those engaged in this struggle for a second Indepen- 
dence. 

Below is a copy of the original pledge of a Temperance As- 
sociation formed in Litchfield more than fifty years since. It 
shows at how early a day, public attention here was directed 
to the dreadful evils of Intemperance, and is interesting on ac- 
count of its antiquity, and the number of distinguished men 
who adopted the pledge. Amdng the signers were men of 
wealth, integrity and benevolence, and s«me who have filled 
high places in our State and Nation. 

"So many are the avenues leading to human misery, that it 
is impossible to guard them all. Such evils as are pioduced by 
our own folly and weakness arc within our power to avoid. 
The immoderate use which the people of this Slate make of 
Distilled Spirits, is undoubtedly an evil of this kind. It is ob- 
vious to every person of the smallest observation, that from 
this pernicious practice follows a train of evils difficult to be e- 
numerated. The morals are corrupted, property is exhau:?ted, 
and health destroyed. And it is most sincerely to be regretted 
that fiom a mistaken idea that distilled spirits are necessary 1o 
laboring men, to counteract the influence of heat, and give re- 
lief from severe fatigue, that a most valuable class of citizens 
have been led to contract a habit of such dangerous tendency. 
Hence arises the inability to ])ay public taxes, lo discharge pri- 
vate debts, and to support and educate families. Seriously 
considering this subject, and the frowns of Divine Providence 
in denying many families in this part of the country the means 
of a comfortable subsistance the present year, by failure of the 
principal crops of the earth ; we think it peculiarly the duty of 
every good citizen to unite his efforts to reform a practice 
which leads so many to poverty, distress and ruin. Whereup- 
on W6 do hereby ag^ociatc, and mutually agiDe, that hcr'caflcr 



51 



we will carry on our business without the use of distilled Spir- 
its as ail article of rerrc-hment, either for ourselves, or those 
whom we employ, and that instead thereof, we will serve our 
workmen with wholesome food, and common simple drinks of 
our own production. 



Ephraini Kirby, 
Timothy Skinner, 
David Buel, 
Julius Deming", 
Beiij'n Tallmadge, 
Uriah Tracy, 
Ebenezer Marsh, 
Closes Seymour, 
Samuel Marsh, 
James Stone, 
Samuel Seymour, 
Daniel Sheldon, 
Ozias Lewis, 
Lawrence Wessells, 
Elijah Wads worth, 
Alexander Catlin, 
Reuben Smith, 



Arcliibald McNiel, 
Abraham Bradley, 
I. Baldwin Junr. 
T. Reeve, 
Collier & Adam, 
Tobias Cleaver, 
Ainos Gal pin, 
Thomas Trowbridge, 
S. Shethar, 
Soloman Buel, 
Briant Stoddard, 
Abraham Peck, 
Frederick Wolcott, 
Nathaniel Smith 2d, 
John Allen, 
John Welch, 
Arthur Emmons. 



Lynde Lord, 

By Necessity and on Principle, in consequence of little ex- 
periment and much observation, I have etfeetuilly adDpieJ and 
adhered to the salutary p'.an herein proposed during several 
months past, and am still resolved to persevere until convinced 
that any alt '.ration will be productive of some greater good, 
whereof at present I have no apprehension 9 w'lilst Hu nan 
Nature remains the sarn.-. J. STRONG." 

Litchjield, 9tli May 1 789. 



In December 1785, the town voted to lease to the adjoining 
proprietors of the land on the west side of Town Street, a strip 
of land 24 feet in width from the west side of the highway, and 
that " one express and immutable condition on which said 
land shall be leased is, that no person shall have liberty on any 
pretense whatever, to erect any building thereon, other than 
a good handsome fence, and if any building should at any time 
be so set thereon, it shall be lawful for any person to demolish 
or remove the same." This strip is now occupied chiefly as 
court yards. Similar votes were subsequendy passed relative 
to Meeting House Street. 



52 

" Miss Sarah Pierce opened a School in this ioun for the 
instruction of Females, in the year 1792, which has rery justly 
merited and acquired a distinguished reputation."* The school 
continued under her superintendence for nearly forty years, 
and its reputation has since been well sustained by her suc- 
cessors. It was incorporated in the year 1827, by the name 
of " The Litchfield Female Academy." 

" The Hon. Tapping Reeve, one of the Judges of the Supe- 
rior Couit, commenced a Law School in Litchfield in the year 
1784; and continued it, under his own tuition, till the year 
1798. At this period, 210 young gentlemen had been stu- 
dents in his School, and qualified for admission to the Bar. 
In the year 1798, James Gould, Esq. became joint instructor 
with Judge Reeve ; and from that time to March, 1812, 264 
young gentlemen were educated here — in the whole, 474. 
"Without doing injustice, it may be safe to remark, that the 
science of Law has been more systematically taught in this 
School, than in any other of the kind in the United States."* 

Judge Reeve and Judge Gould continued to be joint instruct- 
ors till the year 1820 ; after which. Judge Gould lectured 
alone, being assisted in examinations by the Hon. Jabez W. 
Huntington. Judge Gould closed his Lectures in the year 
1833. More than 550 gentlemen received their professional 
education at this school after March 1812 ; making in the 
whole over 1024. This school always enjoyed a deservedlj'^ 
high reputation : such as the talents and extensive legal at- 
tainments of the gentlemen who conducted the institution were 
calculated to give it. Young gentlemen from every section of 
our nation were educated here, and not a few have been dis- 
tinguished as Statesmen and Jurists. 



The village of Litchfield was incorporated in May 1818, 
and by its charter has the usual powers and privileges of a Bo- 
rough. Its limits are about one mile and three fourths in 
length, north and south, and about one mile in breadth, east 
and west. 

A Branch of the Phoenix Bank at Hartford, was established 
here in the year 1814. 

* Morris' Statistical Account. 



33 

The " Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company" was in- 
corpoiated in the year 1833. 

The present Court House was erected in the years 1797 
and 1798, and the present Goal and County House in the 
year 1813. 

A few years since, "an Indian relic was found about half a 
mile east of the Court House, near Bantam River. It is a 
rude sculpture of brown stone, nearly the size of life, repre- 
senting a female with head and shoulders, and extending down 
to the waist. It is now deposited at Yale College, New-Haven." 



— Q(0©— 



CHAPTER IX. 

In May 1740, the Inhabitants of South Farms petitioned 
the Legislature, to be annexed to the north Society of Wood- 
bury, (now Bethlem.) A committee of the Town Avas appoini- 
ed to oppose it, and the application was unsuccessful. Sever- 
al attempts were made to procure their incorporation as an Ec- 
clesiastical Society, which did not succeed till 1767, when an 
act of the Legislature for that purpose was passed. In 1753, 
there were but thirty families in the parish : when it was in- 
corporated it contained seventy. 

But the Legislature long before that time, granted the In- 
habitants power to maintain the public worship of God among 
them for three months during the winter, and this right was 
called the " Winter Privilege." 

They thereupon exercised the ordinary powers of an Ecclesi- 
astical Society. Their first meeting for such purposes was hol- 
den on the 23d Nov. 1748, at the house of Capt. Thomas Har- 
rison. Josiah Strong was chosen Moderator, and Jacob Wood- 
ruff, Clerk. Their meetings were warned by posting notices 
on trees in different parts of the Society. Their preachers, be- 
fore the settlement of Mr. Beckwith, were, the Rev. Messrs. 
Bartlet, Dickeson, Heaton, Richards, Eells, Hart, &c. And 



54 

Public Worship was held in different section?, at the School 
and Private Houses. The first School House was voted to be 
built ill 1747. £"20 was given from the Town Treasury for 
that purpose. In 1747, liberty was granted by the Town, to 
the inhabitants of South Faruis, to have one fourth of an acre 
of ground laid out by the select men for a Burial Ground. 

"The first person buried in South Farms, was interred in 
the month of March, 1749, viz : Mr. James Stoddard ; he was 
killed at the raising of a dwelUng house." 

The orthography of those days was somewhat peculiar. On 
the 14ih of March 1759, the Society "voted, to pay Charles 
Woodruff six shillings for y^ Bears to carry y^ dead." 

The sancity of burial places formerly seems not to have been 
very highly regarded. In 1776, the Town empowered the se- 
lect men to buy of Mr. Thomas Waugh, half an acre about 20 
rods south of Joseph Waugh's dwelling house, for a public bu- 
rying place, and in case said Thomas gave a deed, the Town 
voted, that " said Thomas Waugh his heirs and assigns shall 
have good right forever to enclose said Burying Yard, and use 
it for pasturing, provided, he or they shall keep up and main- 
tain convenient bars for the people to pass and repass, for the 
purpose of burying their dead." 

In 1761 the General Assembly resolved, that the inhabitants 
of South Farms, " be allowed to have the Gospel preached 
among them for four months in the winter season, and shall 
have liberty to build a meeting house." And in 1764 they vo- 
ted to "build a winter house thirty-five feet long, twenty-five 
feet wide, nine feet posts, provided Justus Gibbs will do it for 
J^70 10, &,c." The house was soon after erected, is still in 
existence, and is occupied as a dwelling-house. By a lesolve 
of the General Assembly, the 1st Society was required to re- 
pay to South Farms Society, what they had paid towards build- 
ing the new meeting house in Litchfield. The South Farms 
Society also demanded of the 1st Society, a share of the parson- 
age money, with what success I am not informed. 

In 1769 it was " voted, That wc think the sealing ordinan- 
ces are equally sacred, and any person that is qualified for one 
is qualified for both." And in 1770, " voted, That we approve 



of tlie Church vote, viz : That conversion, shoukl not be a term 
of admission for Church communion." Thi.-^ rule has lonq- been 
abrogated. In 1785, the society built a now Church of liberal 
dimensions. In April of that year, the Society "voted, That 
the meeting house committee shall have good right to furnish 
Rum, Grindstones, and Ropes suliicient for framing- the meet- 
ing house according to their best discretion.'' And in June of 
the same year, the Society appointed an overseer, to direct the 
issue of Liquor at the raising, and "voted. That the overseer 
shall give two drams per day to the spectators, one a little be- 
fore noon, the other a little before night." They entered upon 
the work with such spirit, that the house was finished in twen- 
ty weeks after they began the frame. A steeple was soon af- 
ter added, and a bell procured. This Church was occupied till 
the year 1844, when it was taken down, and a neat and taste- 
ful edifice was erected in more modern style. 

The once celebrated " Morris Acadeni}-," was established in 
South Farms by James Morris, Esq., in 1790. 



"The parish of Northfield, was incorporated by an act of 
the General Assembly, at their October session in the year 
1794. This parish is situated in the South-east corner of 
Litchfield, and it includes within its limits a part of the Town- 
ship of Plymouth. The people settled their first minister, Feb. 
17th, 1795, viz : The Rev. Joseph E. Camp."* He died there 
in May 1837. 

" The parish of Milton is situated in the north-west corner 
of Litchfield. It includes a\ ithin its limits, a part of Goshen, a 
part of Cornwall and a part of Warren. Milton was incorpo- 
rated by the General Assembl)' at the May Session, 1795,"* 



The chmate of Litchfield is eminently favorable to health 
and longevity, and our pure and invigorating atmosphere is re- 
sorted to by strangers from the cities and the South, during 
the heat of summer. Our citizens have had the reputation of 

being distinguished for their intelligence and virtue. The 

* Monfis' Statistical Account 



56 

peace of this community has pcklom heen disturbed by exten- 
sive local or personal contests; a spirit of liberality has in 
general existed between diflferent religious sects, and a feeling 
of good will between all classes. Party spirit, it is true, has 
prevailed among political partizans, and formerly embittered to 
some extent social intercourse. But notwithstanding the cal- 
umny which at diflerent times has been heaped upon individu- 
als, and upon opposing parties, its effect has been temporary, 
and after the heat of contest has subsided, men have learnt 
the injustice of which they have been guilty, and that neither 
all that is excellent is to be found exclusively with the one 
party, nor all that is bad exclusively with the other. And if 
any there are who disbelieve a truth so obvious, they receive, 
in this respect, no countenance from thos3 whose opinions are 
worthy of regard. 

The inhabitants of Litchfield have been blessed with peace, 
harmony and prosperity. They have been well satisfied in 
preserving the valuable institutions of their forefathers, with 
such improvements as experience, and the spirit of the times, 
suggested. The History of such a people is of course some- 
what barren of events interesting to posterity, and if what has 
been collected relative thereto, is either useful or interesting to 
the inhabitants or natives of the town, (and it cannot be ex- 
pected to be much so to others,) the author will be satisfied 
with the result. 



/VPPENDIX. 



The County of Litchfield was organized by an Act of the 
General Assembly, at their session in October, A. D. 1751 ; 
and Litchlield was then made the shire town. 



List of Judges of the Court of Common Pleas ami County Court from the 
year 17")1 to the year 1S20. 

Accessua". Exitns. Accessus. Exihis. 

William Preston, IVf)! 1751 Joshua Porter. 1791 ISOS 

John Williams, 17.5-t 1774 Aaron Austin, 1SU8 ISUi 

Oliver Wolcott, 177-t 17S0 Augustus Pettibone, 1S16 1S20 

Daniel Sherman, 17Si) 1791 

Justices of the Quorum during the sainc period. 

Accessus. Exitus. A'ccessus. Exitns. 

John Williams, 1751 17o4 Aaron Austin, 1690 ISOS 

Samuel Canfieki, 1751 1751 Nathan Hale, 1791 ISU'.t 

Ebenezer iMarsh, 1751 1772 David Smith, 1791 1814 

Joseph Bird, 175.'{ 1751 Daniel N. Brinsmade, l-^O^ 1818 

Noah llinman, 1754 1759 Judson Cantield, Im'S 1S15 

Elisha Shclden, 1751: 17C>1 Eirdsey Norton, 1^ )'.l(liedlS12 

Increase Moseley, 1755 17SiJ Aun;ustus Pettibone, ISI'2 ISKi 

Roger Sherman," 1759 170-3 Uriel Holmes. 1S14 1S17 

Daniel Sherman, 1701 178o Afoses Lyman, Jr. 1815 ISK' 

Bushnell Uostvvick, 17i;2 177(1 Oliver liurnham, l^ui ISIS 

Joshua Porter, 1772 1791 Cyrus Swan, 1S17 ISIO 

Samuel Cantield, 1777 1790 Martin Strong, 1817 ls20 

Jedediah Strong, 17S0 1791 John Welch, ISIU 1820 

Heman Swift, 1780 ISOJ 

After May, 1820, the County Court consisted of a Chief Judge and two Asso- 
ciate Judges, till May, 1S3S, and thereafter of one Judge only. 
Chief or Sole Judges. 

Accessus. Exitus. Accessus. Exit us. 

Augustus Pen ibone, 1S20 1831 Calvin Butler, 1839 ISlit 

David S. Boardman, 1831 183() Ansel Sterling, 1840 1842 

William M. Bnrrall, 1S3G 1838 William M. Burrall, 1842 1814 
Ansel Sterling, 1838 1539 Abijah Catlin, 1844 

Jl.isociate Judges. 

Accessus. Exitus. Accessus. Exitus. 

Martin Strong, 1820 1829 Morris WoodruflT, 1829 lS3s 

John Welch, 1S20 1S29 Hugh P. Welch, 1S3G 1S3S 

William M. Burrall, 1820 1830 

Clerks of the Court of Common Fleas and the County Court, ami of the Su- 
perior Court after its establishment in the County in 1798. 

Accessus. Exitus. Accessus. Exitus. 

Isaac Baldwin, 1751 1793 Origan S. Seymour, 

Frederick Wolcott, 1793 183'j Gideon H. Hollister, 

Sherijffs. 

Accessus. Exitus. 
Oliver Wolcott, 1751 1772 Ozias Seymour. 

LyndeLord, 1772 1801 Albert Sedgwick, 

sLJohn R. Landon, 1801 1819 Charles A Judson, 

Moaea Seymour Jr. 1S19 1825 Albert Srdgwick, 

8 



1830 


1844 


1844 




Accessus. 


ExitUB. 


1825 


1S34 


1834 


1835 


1835 


183S 


1838 





5S 



The Probate District of Litchfield was established in tlie year 1T47, and em- 
braced the towns of Litchfield, Harwinfon,Torrington, Goshen, Cornwall, Nor- 
folk, Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Kent, (then including Warren,) and the Lands- 
on the west side of Housatonic River, between New-Fairfi eld and Sharon. 
Judges of Probate. 







Accessus. 


Esitus 


Accessus 


Exitus. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


1747 


1772 


Phineas Miner, 


1S3S 


1840 


Oliver Wolcott, 


1772 


1796 


Ralph G. Camp, 


1840 


1S42 


Frederick Wolcot 


1796 


1837 


Elisha S. Abernetby, 


1S42 


1844 


Elisha 


S. Abernetby, 1S37 


1938 


Ralph G. Camp, 


1844 








Tsvm Clerks &f Litchfield. 










Accessus. 


Exitus 


Accessus. 


Exitus. 


John Marsh, 


1721 


17.33 


Moses Seymour, 


1789 


1826 


John Bird, 


1733 


1738 


Elihu Harrison, 


1626 


1836 


Joshua 


Garritt, 


1738 


1742 


Samuel P. BoUes> 


1836 


1840 


Isaac B 


\ldvvin. 


1742 


1773 


Sylvester Galpin, 


1S40 


1841 


Jededia 


h Strong, 1773 
field was first represen 


1789 


Samuel P. BoUes,. 


1541 
11-7W. 




Litch 


ed in 


the General Assembly i 


The fot 


lowing 


s a roll of the Representatives 


to the present time: 






1740. 


May. 
October. 


Joseph Bird 
John Bird, 




Ebenezer Marsh, 
John Buel. 






174L 


May. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


do. 








October. 


do. 




Samuel Culver. " 






1742. 


May. 
October. 


do. 
do. 




Joseph Grisvvold. 
Jacob Griswold. 






1743. 


May. 
October. 


dow 
do. 




John Bird. 
Joseph Bird. 






1744. 


May. 


do. 




do. 








October. 


Edward Phelps, 


do. 






174.5. 


May. 


do. 




do. 






2d. 


May. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


L'iaac Baldwin. 








October. 


Edward Phe 


Ips, 


Joseph Bird, 






1746. 


May. 
October. 


Ebenezer IV 
do. 


arsh, 


do. 
do. 






1747. 


May. 


Thomas Harrison, 


Joseph Sanford. 








October. 


do. 




do. 






174S. 


May. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


jTohn Bird. 








October. 


do. 




do. 






1749. 


May. 
October. 


dtx 
(k>. 




Joseph Bird. 
Thomas-Harrison. 






1750. 


May. 
October. 


do. 
do. 




do. 
do. 






1751. 


May. 
October. 


do. 
do. 




do. 
do. 






1752. 


May. 


do. 




do. 








October. 


Joseph Kilborn, 


Benjamin AVebster. 






1753. 


May. 


do. 




do. 








October. 


Thomas Harrison, 


do. 






1754. 


May. 


Ebene/.er Marsh, 


do. 








October. 


do. 




Thomas Harrison. 






1755. 


May. 


Peter Buel, 




Benjamin Webster. 








October. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


Elisha Shelden. 






1756. 


May. 
October. 


do. 
do. 




Peter Buel. 
do. 






1757. 


May. 
October. 


do. 
do. 




do. 
Elisha Sheldon- 






1758. 


May. 
October. 


do. 

do. 




do. 
do. 







Sd 



,1759. 


May. 


Jacob Woodruff, 


Elislia Shelden. 




October. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


do. 


.17G0. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1701. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


Isaac Baldwin. 


1762. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


17G3. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1764. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


Oliver Wolcott. 


1765. 


May. 


do. 


Isaac Baldwin. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1706. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


John Marsh. 


1767. 


May. 


Oliver Wolcott. 


do. 




October. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


do. 


176S. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


Oliver Wolcott, 


Jacob Woodruff. 


1769. 


May. 


Ebeuezer Marsh, 


Abraham Kilbora. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1770. 


May. 


David Welch, 


do. 




October. 


Oliver Wolcott, 


do. 


1771. 


May. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


John Marsh, 




October. 


Jedediah Strong, 


Lynde Lord. 


1772. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


John Marsh. 


1773. 


May. 


do. 


David Welch. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1774. 


May. 


do. 


John Marsh. 




October. 


do. 


David Welch. 


1775. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


Abraham Bradley. 


1776. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


Andrew Adams. 


1777. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1778. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1779. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1780. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


Dav.ld. Welcli, 


do. 


1781. 


May. 


•* • 










October. 


Jedediah Strong, 


Bezaleel Beebe. 


1782. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


Isaac Baldwin. 


1783. 


May. 


do. 


Bezaleel Beebe. 




October. 


Abraham Bradley., 


Isaac Baldwin Jr. 


1784. 


May. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


Isaac Baldwin. 




October. 


do. 


Isaac Baldwin Jr. 


178.5. 


May. 


Jedediah Strong, 


Abraham Bradley. 




October. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


Jedediah Strong. 


1786. 


May. 


do. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1787. 


May. 


do- 


Ebenezer Benton. 




October. 


do. 


Jedediah Strong. 


1788. 


May 


do. 


do 




October. 


do. 


Uriah Tracy. 


1789. 


May. 


Jedediah Strong, 


do. 




October. 


do. 


do. 


1790. 


May. 


Ebenezer Marsh, 


do. 




October. 


Julius Deming, 


do. 


1791. 


May. 


do. 


do. 



60 





October. 


Epliraim Kirby, 


1792. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


Solomon Marsh, 


1793. 


May. 


John Allen, 




October. 


Bezaleel Eeebe, 


1794. 


May. 


Ephraim Kirby. 




October. 


do. 


1795. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


Moses Seymour, 


1796. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


1797. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


179S. 


May. 


James Morris, 




October. 


Moses Sevinoitr, 


1799. 


Rlay. 


do" 




October. 


Ephraim Kirby, 


ISOO. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


1801. 


May. 


Moses Seymour, 




October. 


do. 


1802. 


May. 


James Morris, 




October. 


Moses Seymour, 


1&03. 


May. 


James Morris, 




October. 


do. 


1504. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


1803. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


1S06. 


May. 


Moses Seymour, 




October. 


Uriel Holmes, 


1S07. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


ISOS. 


May. 


Aaron Bradley, 




October. 


Nathaniel Goodwin, 


1S09. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


do. 


1810. 


May. 


Moses Seymour, 




October 


do. 


1811. 


May. 


Aaron Smith, 




October. 


Moses Seymour, 


1812. 


May. 


Aaron Smith, 




October. 


Morris AVoodruff, 


1813. 


May. 


Aaron Smith, 




October. 


do. 


1814. 


May. 


do. 




October. 


Uriel Holmes, 


1815. 


May. 


William Beebe, 




October 


do. 


1816. 


May. 


do. 




October 


do. 


1817. 


May. 


Jonathan Buel, 




October 


do. 


1818. 


May. 


Stephen Russell, 




October. 


do. 


1819. 


May. 


John Welch, 


1820. 


"' 


do. 


1821. 


" 


Seth P. Beers, 


1822. 


•« 


do. 


1823. 


" 


do. 


1824. 


«« 


David Marsh, 


1825. 


<c 


do. 


1926. 


cc 


Morris Woodruff, 


1827. 


" 


Phineas Miner, 



Uriah Tracy, 

do. 
Bezaleel Beebe. 
Uriah Tracy. 
John Alien. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Bezaleel Beebe. 
John Allen. 

do. 
Ephraim Kirby. 

do. 
Julius Deming. 
Epraim Kirby. 

do. 
John Welch. 

do. 
James Morris. 
Ephraim Kirby. 
John Welch. ' 
Frederick Wolcott. 
Ephraim Kirby. 
Frederick Wolcott. 
Uriel Holmes. 

do. " 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Norman Buel. 
Aaron Bradley. 

do. 

do. 
Aaron Sm.ith. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Aaron Bradley. 

do. 
]\Ioses Seymour. 
Aaron Smith. 
Moses Seymour. 
Aaron Smith. 
Morris Woodrut!'. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Jonathan Buel. 

do. 

do. 
Ephraim S. Hall. 

do. 

do. 
Phineas Lord. 

do. 
Seth P. Beers. 
John Welch. 

do. 
Phineas Miner. 
Morris Woodruff. 

do. 
Reuben Webster. 
AVilliam Beebe. 



61 



1S2S. 


May. 


Jahez W. Hnntinpjlon, 


AViniam Fieebe. 


18-39. 




Phineas I\liner, 


Morrii VVoodruli: 


1830. 




Stephen Uussell, 


do. 


1S31. 




do. 


Truman Smith. 


1832. 




Truman Smith, 


Klihu Hunisun. 


1833. 




Williiun Beebe, 


A±\ llo|)kins. 


1S34. 




.Stej)lien Russell, 


Truman Smilii. 


1S35. 




Phineas Miner, 


Klihu Harrison. 


1S36. 




Morris Woodrutt', 


Phineas Lord. 


1837. 




do. 


do. 


1S38. 




Samuel I5uel, 


AVilliam Rav. 


1839. 




do. 


do. 


lS-10. 




Frederick Buel, 


E- Champion Bacon 


1811. 




do. 


do. 


1842. 




Origen S. Seymour, 


Enos Stoddard. 


lS-13. 




do. 


do. 


1844. 




Elislia S. Abernethy. 


Dan Catlin. 


1845. 




Charles Adams, 


do. 



— ^©e— 



CI.ERGYMEN I^ EITCHFIEED. 

FIRST ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY. (CONGREGATIONAL.) 



Timothy Collins, 
Judah Champion, 
Dan Huntington, 
Lyman Beecher, 



Solomon Palmer, 
Thomas Davies, 
Solomon Palmer, 
Nichols, 
Ashbel Baldwin, 
David Butler, 
Truman Marsh, 



Accessus. Exitus. Acce.ssus. Exitus. 

17-21 1752 Daniel L. Carroll, 1827 1829 

1753 1798 Laurens P. Hickok, 1829 183G 

1798 1S09 Jonathan Brace, 1838 1844 
ISIO 1826 



EPISCOPAL SOCIETY. 



Accessus. Exitus 



1754 
1763 
1766 

1785 
1794 
1799 



1703 
17G6 
1770 

17<)3 

1799 
1810 



Isaac Jones, 
John S. Stone, 
William Lucas, 
Samuel Fuller Jr. 
William Payne, 
Samuel Fuller Jr. 



Accessus. Exitus. 



1811 
1S2G 
1829 
1832 
1838 
1845 



1826 
1829 
1832 
1837 
1843 



SOUTH FARMS. (CONGREGATIONAL.) 



George Beckwith, 
Amos Cbase, 
Amos Pettingall, 
Henry Robinson, 



Joseph E. Camp, 



Benjamin Judd, 
Abraham Fowler, 



Accessus. Exitus. Accessus. Exitus. 

1772 1781 Veron D. Taylor, 1S31 ls33 

1787 1814 James F. Warner, 1833 1834 

1816 1S22 Ralph S. Crampton, 1834 1836 
1823 1829 David L. Parmelee, 1841 

NORTHFIELD. (CONGREGATIONAL.) 

Accessus. Exitus. Accessus. Exitus. 

1795 1837 Joel L. Dickinson, 1844 f 



MILTON. (CONGREGATIONAL.) 

Accessus. Exitus. 

1802 1804 Ralph Smith, 
1807 1813 Johu F. Norton. 



Accessus. Exitua. 
1844 



62 

The foilowinp; named persons, natives or citizens of Litchfield, have occupied 
the stations annexed to their respective names : 

-Adams, Andrew, Chief Justice Supreme Court. 

Allen, Ethan, General Revolutionary Army. 

Allen, John, United States Representative. 

Allen, John W., United States Representative, Ohio. 

Beers, Seth P., Commissioner of School Fund. 

Beecher, Lyman, D. D., President Lane Seminary. 

Beecher, Edward, President Illinois College. 

Bird, John, United States Representative. 

Bradley, Abraham, Assistant Post Master General, 

Bradley, Phineas, do. do. do. 

Collier, John A., Comptroller, United States Representative, N. Y. 

Gould, James, Judge Superior Court. 

Holmes, Uriel, United States Representative. 

Huntington, J. W. Judge Sup. Court, U. S. Rep., and U. S. Senator. 

Kirby, Ephraim, Judge, Mississippi. 

Lyon, Matthew, United States Reprejentative, Vermont, Kentucky. 

Marvin, Reynold, Kings Attorney. 

Miner, Phineas, United States Representative. 

Phelps, Samuel S. Judge, United States Senator, VerEiout. 

Reeve, Tapping, Chief Justice Supreme Court. 

Seymour, Horatio, Unitod States Senator, Vermont. 

Shelden, Daniel, Secretary Legation, France. 

Skinner, Roger, United States Judge, N. Y. 

Skinner, Richard, U. S. Rep., Chief Judge Sup. Court, Governor, Vermont. 

Smith, Joseph L., Judge, East Florida, 

Smith, Truman, United States Representative. 

Tallmadge, Benj. Major Revolutionary Army, United States Representative. 

'J-allmadge, Frederick A. Recorder, New York City. 

Tracy, Uriah, United States Representative, United States Senator. 

Wolcott, Oliver, U. S. Rep. (Signer Declaration of Independence,) Governor. 
Wolcott, Oliver, Secretary of Treasury, United States Judge, Governor. 
Woodruff, Clark, Judge, Louisiana. 
Wright, John C, United States Representative, Judge, Ohio. 



Patent of the Town of L.it€hfiol<I. 



The Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in J\cia 
England, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : — 
Know ye, That the said Governor and Company, by virtue of the power gran- 
ted unto them, by our late sovereign King Charles the second, of blessed nu'uui' 
ry, in and by hi^ Majesty's patent, under tlie groat seal of England, dated I lie 
twenty-third day of April, in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign, and in 
pursuance thereof and in General Court asscnibled, according to charter, did, by 
their act, made. May the fourteenth. Anno Domini, 1719, upon the humble peti- 
tion of Lieut. John Marsh of Hartford, within the aaid Colony, and Dea. John 
Buell of Lebanon, grant unto the said John Marsh and John Buell and Partners, 
settlers, being in the whole fifty-seven in number, liberty to settle a town west- 
ward of Farmington, in the county of Hartford, at a place called Bantam, which 
town was to be in length, east and west, eight miles, three quarters, and twenty- 
eight rods, and in breadth, seven miles and an half, to be bounded east on Matta- 
tuck river, west part on Shipaug river, and part on the wilderness, north by the 
wilderness, and south by Waterbury bounds and a west line, from Waterbury 
corner to the said Shipaug river. And ordered, that the said town should be 
called by the name of LitchGeld, as more fully appears by the said act. The aaid 
Governor and Company by virtue of the aforesaid power, and by their special act , 
bearing even date with these presents, for divers good catiscs and considerations 
them hereunto moving, have given, granted, and by these presents, for them- 
selves, their heirs and successors, do fully, clearly, and absolutely give, grant, 
ratify and confirm unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and to the rest of 
the said partners, settlers of said tract of land, [in their actual full and peaceable 
possession and seizin being] and to their heirs and assigns, and such as shall le- 
gally succeed and represent them forever, [in such proportions as they the said 
partners and settlers or any of them respectively have right in and are lawfully 
possessed of the same,] all that the said tract of land now called and known by 
the name of Litchfield, in the county of Hartford aforesaid, be the same more or 
less, butted and bounded as followeth, viz : Beginning at the north-east corner at 
a tree w'ith stones about it, standing in the crotch of Mattatuck river aforesaid, 
and runs southerly by the side of said river until it meets with Waterbury bounds* 
where is a \\q\1 kno^vn white oak tree, standing about fifteen rods west of said 
Mattatuck river, anciently marked with IS: IN: From thence running west 
twenty-three degrees thirty minutes sooth to two white oak trees grow mg out of 
one root with stones about them, and west one mile and half to Waterbury north 
west corner bound mark ; and from thence west five degrees thirty minutes, north 
to Shipaug river, where is a tree and stones about it butting uyon Woodbury town- 
ship. Then beginning at the first mentioned tree by Mattatuck river and run- 
ning westward into the wilderness to an oak tree marked and stones laid around 

it, then south to a crotch in the Shipaug river, and thence by the westermost 
branch of Shipang river to Woodbury bounds. And also all and singular the 
lands, trees, woods, underwoods, woodgrounds, uplands, arable lands, meadows, 
moors, marshes, pastures, ponds, waters, rivers, brooks, fishings, fowlings, hunt- 
ings, mines, minerals, quarries, and precious stones, upon and within (he said 



a-H 



64 

land And all other riglits, members, hereditaments, easements and commodi. 
ties whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, so butted and 
bounded as is herein before particularly expressed or mentioned, and the rever- 
sion or reversions, remainder or remainders, rights, royalties, privileges, powers 
and jiUisdictions whatsoever, ot and in all and singular the said tract of land and 
premises hereby granted, and of and in any and every part and parcel thereof. 
And the rents, services and profits to the same incident, belonging or appertain- 
ing — To HaVe and to Hold all the said tract of land and all and singular other 
the premises hereby given or granted, or mentioned, or intended to be granted, with 
all the priviledges and appurtenances thereof unto the said John Marsh and John 
BueM, and the rest of the partners, settlers of the same, their heirs and assigns, 
to their only [iroper Use, benefit and behoof forever ; and to and for no other use, 
intent or purpose whatsoever; and the said Governor and Company for them- 
selves and their successors, have given and granted, and by these presents do give 
and grant unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and rest of the partners, 
settlers of the tract of land herein before granted, their heirs and assigns, that. 
the said tract of land so butted and bounded as aforesaid, shall from time to time 
and at all times forever hereafter, be deemed, reputed, denominated, and be an 
entire town of itself, and shall be called and known by the name of Litchfield, in 
the county of Hartford, and that the aforesaid partners, settlers and inhabitants 
thereof, shall and lawfully may from time to time and at all times, forever here- 
after have, use, exercise and enjoy all such rights, powers, priviledges, immuni- 
ties and franchises, in and among themselves, as are given, granted, allowed, 
used, exercised and enjoyed, to, by, and amongst the proper inhabitants of other 
towns in this Cohmy, according to common approved custom and observance ; 
and that the said tract of land and premises hereby granted as aforesaid, and ap- 
purtenances, shall remain, continue and be unto the said John Marsh and John 
Buell, and the rest of the partners settlers, their heirs and assigns, in propor- 
tion aforesaid forever, a good, peaceable, pure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasi- 
ble estate ot inheritance in fee simple, to be holden of His Majesty, his heirs 
and successors, as of His Majesty's Manor of East Greenwich in the County of 
Kent, in the Kingdom of England, in free and common soccage, and not in cap- 
ite, nor by Knight's service. — Yielding therefor, and paying unto our Sovereign 
Lord King George, his heirs and successors forever, one fifth part of all ore of 
Gold and Silver, which from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, 
shall be there gotten, had or obtained, in liew of all service^ duties and demands 
whatsoever. 

Is Witness whereof. The said Governor and Company have caused the 
Seal of the said Colony to be hereunto affixed. 

Dated in Hartford, May the 19th day, Anno regni regis Decimo Georgii, 
Mag'ce Britt'ae, Fran'ie, Hybcru'ie, Annoque Domini, One Thousand 
Seven Hundred and Twenty Four, 17Q4. 

G. SALTONSTALL, Gov'r. 

By order of the Gov'r and 
and Company in General 
Court assembled. 

Hez. WyLLis, Secretary 



.*3 









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